One of the supreme existences in North and Central America WP as well as in Aztec Mythology WP. In the Codex's description of the first meeting between Moctezuma and Corts, the Aztec ruler is described as giving a prepared speech in classical oratorial Nahuatl, a speech which, as described in the codex written by the Franciscan Bernardino de Sahagn and his Tlatelolcan informants, included such prostrate declarations of divine or near-divine admiration as: You have graciously come on earth, you have graciously approached your water, your high place of Mexico, you have come down to your mat, your throne, which I have briefly kept for you, I who used to keep it for you. Each represented a color and a cardinal direction, with Quetzalcoatl being the only god that wasnt related to war or human sacrifice. Quetzalcoatl was many things: (1) a historical personage - a great priest-king and religious reformer who lived in approximately the tenth century A.D. 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Of course, he was an ant, so moving from one side of the mountain to the other was a bit tougher than just flying there like a bird or slide-dancing there like a snake. What did Quetzalcoatl teach? There was one way that would certainly work, namely by letting it rain so abundantly that the snake simply drifted out of the cave. Indeed, it turned out that this was the only viable option since the snake wasnt planning on moving for other reasons. The west is represented by Quetzalcoatl who is also the White Tezcatlipoca and the god of light, justice, mercy, and wind. Venus, which the god was closely associated with, appeared in the sky at the beginning of the rainy season. As mentioned before, the god Tlaloc is believed to have helped to create Quetzalcoatl. [8] In his form as the morning star, Venus, he is also depicted as a harpy eagle. (Restall 2001 p. 114)[full citation needed]. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. In some traditions, he was considered to be the creator of mankind. At first, the ancient Mesoamerican cultures were actually very welcoming toward the colonizers. Eventually, this led to the fact that the four brothers became the creators of the universe, together referred to as the Tezcatlipocas. Quetzalcoatlhe was the wind, the guide and road sweeper of the rain gods, of the masters of the water, of those who brought rain. In an example from Yaxchilan, the Vision Serpent has the human face of the young maize-god, further suggesting a connection to fertility and vegetational renewal; the Maya Young Maize god was also connected to Venus. And when the wind rose, when the dust rumbled, and it crack and there was a great din, became it became dark and the wind blew in many directions, and it thundered; then it was said: [Quetzalcoatl] is wrathful., -Bernadino de Sahagn, Florentine Codex: General History of the Things of New Spain. All but one. Often our current time was considered the fifth sun,[29] the previous four having been destroyed by flood, fire and the like. Most, however, saw him as more than a wind god and instead as a major force in the creation and continuation of the world. According to the Book of Mormon, the resurrected Jesus Christ descended from heaven and visited the people of the American continent, shortly after his resurrection. The two priests came to their position after living an exemplary life, with pure and compassionate hearts. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. The south is represented by Huitzilopochtli who is the Blue Tezcatlipoca and the god of war. He is a former head writer at VIVA Travel Guides. He was known as the inventor of books and the calendar, the giver of maize (corn) to mankind, and sometimes as a symbol of death and resurrection. After only a couple of years, the Aztec empire ended due to a combination of foreign diseases and diplomacy. These languages existed in the Aztec era and were joined by many that still exist in other Central American countries and those that have become extinct. The first documented worship of Quetzalcoatl is found in Theotihuacan during the first century BC or first century AD.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-box-4','ezslot_7',140,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-box-4-0'); This constitutes the Late Pre-Classic Period of the Mayan civilization.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_9',111,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); By the Late Classic Period (600AD-900AD), it appears that the worship of Quetzalcoatl had spread throughout the Mesoamerican region. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. Plumed serpents continued to be depicted in Central American cultures. [10], The earliest known documentation of the worship of a Feathered Serpent occurs in Teotihuacan in the first century BC or first century AD. So it should be clear that Quetzalcoatl was, indeed, a great mythical figure. Table of Contents [ hide] Etymology and Archaeology 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. Getting the snake out of the cave had been Tlalocs only objective for months on end. Some said that before this he had helped to create the world itself. Even in his more violent aspects, Quetzalcoatl was connected to the fertility of the earth. In the underworld, Quetzalcoatl went all the way to Mictln; the lowest region of the Aztec underworld. This is also evident in the duality of serpent figures throughout Mesopotamian history. Montezuma king of the aztecs during the era had even confirmed that Cortes was Quetzalcoatl or a reincarnation of their deity. A Walking Tour of the Maya Capital of Chichn Itz, The Chac Mool Sculptures of Ancient Mexico, Influence of the Olmec Civilization on Mesoamerica. Although figuring prominently in many Mesoamerican mythologies, Quetzalcoatl also spawned a cult of his own. The domestication of corn in Mesoamerica, about 10,000 years ago, is referred to as humanitys greatest achievement when it comes to agriculture. The earliest known iconographic depiction of the deity appears on Stela 19 at the Olmec site of La Venta. Why is that? Well, look no further, because Quetzalcoatl is your guy. Although the citys main temple was not dedicated to him, the priests of the city took his name and his iconography was prevalent. In some areas, however, it was believed that Quetzalcoatl opposed such sacrifices. The language is spoken today in the highlands of central Guatemala. Christopher Minster, Ph.D., is a professor at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador. Mesoamerican deities often functioned in duality. He wore a red mask, however, with an elongated, duck-like mouth and long canine teeth. [22] A third story narrates that Chimalman was hit in the womb by an arrow shot by Mixcoatl and nine months later she gave birth to a child which was called Quetzalcoatl. (Many academics conclude this passage implies incest.) Accessed March 1, 2023. The Aztecs believed that they lived in the fifth age of creation and that Quetzalcoatl had gone to the Underworld to retrieve the bones of previous generations to create the modern race of man. Quetzalcoatl occupied a unique position in the Aztec pantheon and was considered one of the most important gods. [15] In the 17th century, Ixtlilxchitl, a descendant of Aztec royalty and historian of the Nahua people, wrote, "Quetzalcoatl, in its literal sense, means 'serpent of precious feathers' but in the allegorical sense, 'wisest of men'."[16]. 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. His body is usually black, a color that represents the north in Aztec art. "[17], Quetzalcoatl also became linked with rulership and priestly office; additionally, among the Toltec, the name was used as a military title and its representation as an emblem. He also encouraged them to worship a different god, Quetzalcoatl (kehtsahlkoh AHT uhl), or the Feathered Serpent. This constitutes the Late Pre-Classic Period of the Mayan civilization. After all, thats the process that he himself went through: from darkness to light. [citation needed] Additionally, at least one major cache of offerings includes knives and idols adorned with the symbols of more than one god, some of which were adorned with wind jewels. The worship of Quetzalcoatl is wide-reaching, has a rich history, and exemplifies the complex world of Aztec mythology. In another legend, still told in Mexico, Quetzalcoatl was feeling ill. His brother Tezcatlipoca, who wanted to be rid of Quetzalcoatl, came up with a clever plan. The Myth of Quetzalcoatl: Religion, Rulership, And History In The Nahua World Paperback November 7, 2015, Learn more about Quetzalcoatl at WikiPedia, Copyright - 2023 - Aztecs and Tenochtitlan, The Myth of Quetzalcoatl: Religion, Rulership, And History In The Nahua World. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Gods of Death Also, the Quetzalcoatl mural had quite a bit to do with internal peace in society. Quetzalcoatl was a jack of many trades, a truth also reflected in the stories surrounding his birth. Franciscans then equated the original Quetzalcoatl with Thomas and imagined that the Indians had long-awaited his return to take part once again in God's kingdom. He also has red and green feathers around his head and back. Among these Mesoamerican gods, Quetzalcoatl was also one of the oldest. How old is the United States of America? By adding a bit of his own blood, he allowed a new civilization to emerge. The invaders looked an awful lot like these late depictions. His form of reincarnation, more specifically, would be that of a white person with a long beard. The Coatlicue sculpture in Mexico City's National Museum of Anthropology is one of the most famous Mexica (Aztec) sculptures in existence (her name is pronounced "koh-at-lee-kway"). Welcome. Of these, Quetzalcoatl was the Sun in the second cycle. Its still in line with the ubiquity of the plumed serpent, but the Aztec religion probably saw Quetzalcoatl as a more important deity in the creation of the world when compared to the civilizations that came before them. Auh yn jquac molhuja eheca, mjtoa: teuhtli quaqualaca, ycoioca, tetecujca, tlatlaiooa, tlatlapitza, tlatlatzinj, motlatlaueltia. The eclipse that was caused by the birth of Quetzalcoatl is believed to be the fifth eclipse to ever happen. What a conundrum. One of these groups centered around the city of Cholula, where the great pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. In sculptures adorning temples throughout ancient Mexico, he generally appeared as a plumed serpent, although sometimes he had human features as well. The famous Pyramid of the Niches at El Tajin is believed by many to be dedicated to Quetzalcoatl, and the many ball courts there also suggest that his cult was important. Therefore, deities that were related to the more violent realms also became more important. By Quetzalcoatl was a god for many ancient . 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. 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. In the Mesoamerican Epiclassic Period (900-1200 A.D.), worship of Quetzalcoatl took off. In yet another version, Quetzalcoatl is said to be one of the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl. Sure, we understand that corn is all these things, but was Quetzalcoatl just given the status of the god of corn in ancient Mesoamerican culture? And, it wasnt so bad after all. Xolotl was the sinister god of monstrosities who wears the spirally-twisted wind jewel and the ear ornaments of Quetzalcoatl. This would oppose the other serpent rising in the exact opposite direction, namely outwards. The story of the life of the Mexican divinity, Quetzalcoatl, closely resembles that of the Savior; so closely, indeed, that we can come to no other conclusion than that Quetzalcoatl and Christ are the same being. The Toltecs and Nahuas worshiped the god before he was eventually adopted by the Aztecs. Continue with Recommended Cookies. This, it is believed, explains why he was looking inwards to the city. He used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create mankind. The attributes of Quetzalcoatl varied in different cultures of Mesoamerica during different eras. These were part of the Nahua culture, which included both these states and other independent ethnic groups in central Mexico. Franciscans such as Toribio de Benavente "Motolinia" saw elements of Christianity in the pre-Columbian religions and therefore believed that Mesoamerica had been evangelized before, possibly by Thomas the Apostle, who, according to legend, had "gone to preach beyond the Ganges". Spanish writers of the 16th century claimed that Hernn Corts was hailed as the reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl when he arrived in Mexico in 1519. But still, how could that ever be the case? The Aztecs werent a big fan of chronological order and shook up the world of the gods. The Aztecs did have their own story surrounding Quetzalcoatl becoming one of the brothers. Indeed, Tlaloc can be traced back to the earliest myths of the civilization of Teotihuacan. What is often called the Aztec Empire was a confederation of three city-states, established in the 14th and 15th centuries. Quetzalcoatl is but one of the Aztec gods and goddesses that has animal-like characteristics. It really elevated the status of the Feathered Serpent to the protector of the people, which is also affirmed by his role as patron god. By the 3rd century AD this was recognizable as a god, who had a pyramid dedicated to his honor in the city of Teotihuacn. The Toltecs and Nahuas worshiped the god before he was eventually adopted by the Aztecs. And over the North presides the Black Tezcatlipoca, known by no other name than Tezcatlipoca, the god of judgment, night, deceit, sorcery and the Earth. Although little is known about the specific ways in which he was revered, some historians believe that the use of hallucinogenic mushrooms and other intoxicants may have played a large role. Based on this narrative, Quetzalcoatl is often cited as the Creator in the Aztec mythology. It is not a coincidence that Quetzalcoatl is just as often referred to as the Feathered Serpent by his worshipers and historians. 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