Quetzalcoatl, or Feathered Serpent, was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. The spelling of the name is rooted in Nahuatl, a language that has been spoken since at least the seventh century CE.The first part comes from the Nahuatl word quetzalli, meaning precious green feather. The second part of his name, coatl, means serpent. Ququmatz Also written as Gukumatz, this name belonged to the Kiche Maya. In yet another version, Quetzalcoatl is said to be one of the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl. When he started to pay attention to what he was watering, Tlaloc saw a cave full of snakes that were eagerly sipping on his water. [7] Animals thought to represent Quetzalcoatl include resplendent quetzals, rattlesnakes (coatl meaning "serpent" in Nahuatl), crows, and macaws. Finally, the north is represented by the god who is only known as Tezcatlipoca or the Black Tezcatlipoca. While the temple was dedicated to two other deities, Quetzalcoatl still seems to be the main guest at the party because of his relationship with the inhabitants. Because of this, the ways in which he was worshipped varied widely. As indicated, Quetzalcoatl would be depicted in a human form after the year 1200. He was quite a bit bigger than he was before. Along with one of his brothers, he was instructed by his parents to create the world six hundred years after his birth. However, independent historical sources do not substantiate this claim and later historians have disputed it as well. Quetzalcoatl, or "Feathered Serpent," was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. The name Quetzalcoatl comes from this language and is most widely-used both because it was recorded by Spanish conquerors and because Nahuatl is still spoken by roughly 1.5 million people. The Tlaxcalteca, along with other city-states across the Plain of Puebla, then supplied the auxiliary and logistical support for the conquests of Guatemala and West Mexico while Mixtec and Zapotec caciques (Colonial indigenous rulers) gained monopolies in the overland transport of Manila galleon trade through Mexico, and formed highly lucrative relationships with the Dominican order in the new Spanish imperial world economic system that explains so much of the enduring legacy of indigenous life-ways that characterize southern Mexico and explain the popularity of the Quetzalcoatl legends that continued through the colonial period to the present day. The date 9 Wind is known to be associated with fertility, Venus and war among the Maya and frequently occurs in relation to Quetzalcoatl in other Mesoamerican cultures. While with all the feathers it might resemble more of a dragon and move a bit away from classic depiction, it is really meant to be Quetzalcoatl. Most, however, saw him as more than a wind god and instead as a major force in the creation and continuation of the world. ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322. Quetzalcoatl appears in many ancient Mesoamerican codices, sculptures and reliefs. The worship of Quetzalcoatl is wide-reaching, has a rich history, and exemplifies the complex world of Aztec mythology. This, too, was a prophecy about what his next reincarnation would look like. To both Teotihuacan and Maya cultures, Venus was in turn also symbolically connected with warfare.[21]. Getting the snake out of the cave had been Tlalocs only objective for months on end. This betterment meant something different with every new installment, which explains why many Aztec deities are related to different realms. Minster, Christopher. In the episode "Damnesia You," Xavier winds up in the Aztec world and is immediately (and unsuccessfully) sacrificed for insulting the Sun God, and during the sacrifice the Aztecs humorously fail to pronounce his name. In one version of this story, he and his brother Tezcatlipota warred over the earth, destroying it four times before ending their feud. Quetzalcoatl became linked with the maize crop thanks to ancient legends. Quetzalcoatl is closely associated with the myth of the four cardinal directions. Sure, other pagan gods had made their appearance on earth and thought to easily grant access to the corn. Mesoamerican priests and kings would sometimes take the name of a deity they were associated with, so Quetzalcoatl and Kukulcan are also the names of historical persons. 2. The two priests came to their position after living an exemplary life, with pure and compassionate hearts. Based on the birth story of Quetzalcoatl, it seems safe to assume that the fourth sun was destroyed because of the floods caused by Tlaloc. Ruler of the, Nicholson 2001, Carrasco 1982, Gillespie 1989, Florescano 2002, Lafaye 1987, Townsend 2003, Martnez 1980, Phelan 1970. Where once feathered snakes were worshiped all over, after the Spanish conquest the locals were forced into worshiping Jesus Christ. Much of the idea of Corts being seen as a deity can be traced back to the Florentine Codex written down some 50 years after the conquest. [32][33][34][35][36] Most documents expounding this theory are of entirely Spanish origin, such as Corts's letters to Charles V of Spain, in which Corts goes to great pains to present the naive gullibility of the Aztecs in general as a great aid in the conquest of the Aztec Empire. In Xochicalco, depictions of the feathered serpent accompany the image of a seated, armed ruler and the hieroglyph for the day sign 9 Wind. Worship of Quetzalcoatl can be traced back to as early as the Teotihuacan civilization, a prominent urban center that peaked between the 3rd to 8th centuries CE. In the iconography of the classic period, Maya serpent imagery is also prevalent: a snake often appears as the embodiment of the sky itself, and a vision serpent is a shamanic helper presenting Maya kings with visions of the underworld. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. Later, Xavier and the Aztecs summon Quetzalcoatl in his mortal form and wind up angering him after cutting him open. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Quetzalcoatl was so closely linked to fertility and creation that many groups held him to be the creator of mankind. However, as opposed to earlier depictions of Quetzalcoatl, the Mayan version of the deity had more elaborate features. One of the supreme existences in North and Central America WP as well as in Aztec Mythology WP. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice.. Mesoamerican priests and kings would sometimes take the name of a deity they were associated with, so Quetzalcoatl and Kukulcan are also the names of historical persons.. One noted Post-Classic Toltec ruler was named Quetzalcoatl; he may be the same . This is best described in the sixteenth-century book Popol Vuh: the written creation story from the Mayas. At Cholula, however, the gods cult is most evident. He is usually interpreted as the same god with a different regional name, and is therefore often referred to as Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl. Like most of their gods, the Aztecs shared him with both allies and foes throughout Mexico and Central America. Although probably not exactly a depiction of the same feathered-serpent deity worshipped in classic and post-classic periods, it shows the continuity of symbolism of feathered snakes in Mesoamerica from the formative period and on, for example in comparison to the Maya Vision Serpent shown below. The meaning of his name is "Winged Serpent" or "Feathered Serpent". In some versions of the ancient Mesoamerican histories, Quetzalcoatl was reborn as Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli after being burned on a funeral pyre. According to another mythological account, he was conceived by the virgin Chimalman after she swallowed an emerald. Well, look no further, because Quetzalcoatl is your guy. One of the jewels he is depicted with is the wind jewel, affirming his status as a wind god. It is believed by the Aztec religion expert that the deity arose from the combination of the historical leader, Ce Acatl Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl, and a Mesoamerican god. He sometimes carries flowers or sacrificial tools. If your web page requires an HTML link, please insert this code: . They kept the same gods but believed in a new story. Or rather, arrived again. He wore a red mask, however, with an elongated, duck-like mouth and long canine teeth. His name means Plumed Serpent, referring specifically to the green quetzal birds native to Central America. Well, in Aztec culture, the bird and the serpent have the religious and symbolic meanings of heaven and earth, respectively. Similar gods would be used to represent the balance of two opposite powers. Quetzalcoatl was many things: (1) a historical personage - a great priest-king and religious reformer who lived in approximately the tenth century A.D. Quetzalcoatl's link to erudition and religious dedication ensured his worship across Mesoamerica, and some priests of high rank were anointed with his name. Mictlantecuhtli was the Aztec god of death and the principle god of the underworld. He is a former head writer at VIVA Travel Guides. Toltec religion. Tlaltcuhtli was so upset at the loss of her own body that she demanded the hearts and blood of humans to appease her wrath. These sources further claimed that it was because of this superstition that Moctezuma II invited Cortes as a guest and didnt harm him or his soldiers. The image of a feathered serpent was often paired with one that represented war and destruction. Quetzalcoatls twin, Xolotl, was a god associated with death. The south is represented by Huitzilopochtli who is the Blue Tezcatlipoca and the god of war. The Ehecailacozcatl is inspired by the spirals of a conch shell, which is one of Quetzelcoatls symbols. (2020, August 28). Throughout Mesoamerican culture, they practiced human sacrifice and ritual cannibalism to placate this god. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. Manage Settings "9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl." The Nahua largely spoke dialects of the same language, Nahuatl, which helped to unify their culture. Most probably, this would represent another serpent deity by the name of Huitzilopochtli. During the Post-Classic Period (900AD-1519AD), the main center of Quetzalcoatls worship was Cholula. According to stories, Aztec people only ate animals or roots until Quetzalcoatl arrived. Quetzalcoatl stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. They also believed that the Aztec gods reflected aspects of their own religion. Montezuma's failure to act has been attributed to his belief that Cortes was none other than Quetzalcoatl, who had once gone away to the east, promising to return. Plumed serpents continued to be depicted in Central American cultures. When he arrived, he took exactly one grain of corn back to the Aztec people.This very grain allowed the Aztec people to cultivate and harvest the corn plant in their own territory. Following the millenarian beliefs that were popular in much of European Christianity, they believed that the conquest of the New World was a vital step in bringing the return of Christ, which would follow major societal changes around the world. A Walking Tour of the Maya Capital of Chichn Itz, The Chac Mool Sculptures of Ancient Mexico, Influence of the Olmec Civilization on Mesoamerica. The first keeper of written records, he was patron of the Calmecac, a school for noble children who learned to paint histories and astrology, as well as practice the art of war. In the post-classic Nahua civilization of central Mexico (Aztec), the worship of Quetzalcoatl was ubiquitous. The next morning, Quetzalcoatl, feeling shame and regret, had his servants build him a stone chest, adorn him in turquoise, and then, laying in the chest, set himself on fire. 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