Most Mesoamerican beliefs included cycles of suns. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. [19] The most important center was Cholula, where the world's largest pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl-worship. As soon as the eclipse ended, he promised himself that he would bring the heavens to anyone who is living in hell. His job was to protect the sun from the dangers of the underworld. He was worshiped among all the major cultures of the Mesoamerican region through history. 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 there were so many languages and ethnic groups in Mesoamerica, their gods went by many names. Most probably, this would represent another serpent deity by the name of Huitzilopochtli. However, this legend likely has a foundation in events that took place immediately prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. The worship of Quetzalcoatl is wide-reaching, has a rich history, and exemplifies the complex world of Aztec mythology. Over time, Quetzalcoatl's appearance, clothing, malevolent nature, and status among the gods were reshaped to fit a more Christian framework. The first documented worship of Quetzalcoatl is found in Theotihuacan during the first century BC or first century AD. [9] In Mazatec legends the astrologer deity Tlahuizcalpanteuctli, who is also represented by Venus, bears a close relationship with Quetzalcoatl. There are three different ways you can cite this article. In Mesoamerican history, many different ethnopolitical groups worshiped a feathered-serpent deity. 1. But even things of an extremely mundane nature like s. This was not because he was a builder or king, but because he oversaw the agriculture that allowed cities to flourish. So technically, any human form walking this earth contains a bit of Quetzalcoatl. 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. related to the belief in a sky-, Venus-, creator-, war- and fertility-related serpent deity. In the underworld, Quetzalcoatl went all the way to Mictln; the lowest region of the Aztec underworld. Quetzalcoatl was not only one of the most important deities in pre-Columbian Mexico, he was also one of the oldest. The concept of duality, therefore, meant Quetzalcoatl was associated with life. A Walking Tour of the Maya Capital of Chichn Itz, The Chac Mool Sculptures of Ancient Mexico, Influence of the Olmec Civilization on Mesoamerica. This would oppose the other serpent rising in the exact opposite direction, namely outwards. Mason-Dixon Line Even in his more violent aspects, Quetzalcoatl was connected to the fertility of the earth. He used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create mankind. Quetzalcoatl is thus not only an Aztec god. For more details, Wikipedia is a good resource. Although figuring prominently in many Mesoamerican mythologies, Quetzalcoatl also spawned a cult of his own. However, later sources uncover that already a year before him a similar figure dwelled in the lands of the Aztec territory. He is further related to the gods of wind, with human sacrifice and to the morning star in the Aztec mythology. After a slapstick-style chase scene, Xavier winds up as the Sun God and commits "sacricide" (sacrificial suicide), ending the skit. Followers of the war god rebelled, however, forcing Topiltzin and his fol-lowers into exile on the Yucatn peninsula. The four suns before Quetzalcoatl had been destroyed by disastrous events, like floods, fires, and volcanic eruptions. Tlaloc blew the snake into the air, to a point where he was higher than the birds. [24] A fourth story narrates that Quetzalcoatl was born from Coatlicue, who already had four hundred children who formed the stars of the Milky Way. By adding a bit of his own blood, he allowed a new civilization to emerge. Amazed by the grace and beauty of the birds, the snake decided his destiny was to fly like them. https://www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322 (accessed March 2, 2023). In Aztec culture, depictions of Quetzalcoatl were fully anthropomorphic. The south is represented by Huitzilopochtli who is the Blue Tezcatlipoca and the god of war. At one hand, Mayans considered a snake as the embodiment of the cosmos. Aztec God Quetzalcoatl According to one myth, Quetzalcoatl was born to a virgin called Chimalman to whom god Onteol appeared in a dream. Quetzalcoatl wasnt all that happy with it, however. Carrasco's work was revised in 2000, and the new edition provides a valuable overview of the controversy about Cortes and Quetzalcoatl. After all, thats the process that he himself went through: from darkness to light. Mexico's flagship airline Aeromxico has a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner painted in a special Quetzalcoatl livery. 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A wide range of maize crops are still eaten to this date, both by the Mexicans that have adopted many of the European habits, and the remaining Indigenous peoples of central Mexico. [19] The most important center was Cholula, where the world's largest pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl-worship. He drove the winds that brought rain and allowed plants to grow. Instead, these stories were probably the invention of Franciscan monks who followed the initial conquest of Mexico. Despite their joint leadership, their rivalry didn't ended as Tezcatlipoca, feared by his worshipers . Some said that before this he had helped to create the world itself. "9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl." It was also the patron god of the Aztec priesthood. 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. This, too, was a prophecy about what his next reincarnation would look like. Quetzalcoatl has been worshiped by all the major Mesoamerican cultures including the Mayans and the Aztecs. To create humans, Quetzalcoatl had to go into the Underworld and collect some bones. Quetzalcoatl is a form of one of Mesoamericas most wide-spread images. What are the facts associated with this mysterious god? 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. Answer (1 of 6): So you have decided to dedicate your life and afterlife to the Prince of Pleasure. Have you ever eaten blue, white, black, or red corn? Colonial documentary sources from the Maya area frequently speak of the arrival of foreigners from the central Mexican plateau, often led by a man whose name translates as "Feathered Serpent". Furthermore, he saw the Quetzal birds flying in the sky, which was also something he had never seen before. In Aztec culture, this was considered to be one of the most important primal forces. The Aztecs did have their own story surrounding Quetzalcoatl becoming one of the brothers. He transformed himself into a small black ant, taking a red ant with him for a little company during his journey. [10], The earliest known documentation of the worship of a Feathered Serpent occurs in Teotihuacan in the first century BC or first century AD. Cortes continued to play the role of Quetzalcoatl for many years and eventually impacted others to convert. [41] However, in 1892 one president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, John Taylor, wrote:[42]. In the 16th century, Spaniards conquered the Aztec Empire. It starts with Tlaloc, the Aztec god of rain. Where once feathered snakes were worshiped all over, after the Spanish conquest the locals were forced into worshiping Jesus Christ. 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. On the other hand, the snake was considered a vital instrument to help bring visions from the underworld to the Mayan kings. Quetzalcoatl, or Feathered Serpent, was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. It allows for a form of food security, and therefore for peace, and as a result, has taken on not only physical and economic importance but spiritual significance as well. Thats quite a big deal, because for the people in ancient Mexico, maize, or corn, is not just a crop. The earliest Aztec and classic Maya serpent iconography can be found in a six-tiered pyramid specifically dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. Well, look no further, because Quetzalcoatl is your guy. He figures most prominently in the Aztec mythology but it was in the city of Cholula that the cult of Quetzalcoatl enjoyed influence and prominence during the Classic Period of Mesoamerica. 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. But still, how could that ever be the case? Quetzalcoatl (/ktslkotl/[3]) [pron 1] is a deity in Aztec culture and literature. How should one worship the sun? . A 2012 exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Dallas Museum of Art, "The Children of the Plumed Serpent: the Legacy of Quetzalcoatl in Ancient Mexico", demonstrated the existence of a powerful confederacy of Eastern Nahuas, Mixtecs and Zapotecs, along with the peoples they dominated throughout southern Mexico between 1200 and 1600 (Pohl, Fields, and Lyall 2012, Harvey 2012, Pohl 2003). He is a powerful and benevolent dragon-type entity associated with harvests, wild animals, the morning star ( Venus ), wind and rain. This idea of return stemmed from a supposed speech given by Montezuma, the Aztec ruler, to Corts when the Spanish arrived at Tenochtitlan. How old is the United States of America? 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. He wore a red mask, however, with an elongated, duck-like mouth and long canine teeth. Since the sixteenth century, it has been widely held that the Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II initially believed the landing of Hernn Corts in 1519 to be Quetzalcoatl's return. ThoughtCo. When Cortes and his crew of Spaniards came ashore in Mexico in 1519, many thought they were gods. The Aztecs, however, were only a small segment of the regions people. He was also associated with the creation of mankind, so he also possibly occupied the role of creator in the Aztec mythology. He was a god of wind, culture, knowledge, and creation. Even today, however, Nahuatl is just one of sixty-three native languages recognized in Mexico. The colonization of Mesoamerica, or rather Abya Yala, has severely impacted the area where Quetzalcoatl was worshiped. 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. Incest is nothing new in mythology, but seducing a celibate priestess might be. Quetzalcoatl was considered important in the pantheon of Aztec gods. Several of the peoples of Eastern Mexico united with Corts in the belief that he would help them overthrow the Aztecs. In sculptures adorning temples throughout ancient Mexico, he generally appeared as a plumed serpent, although sometimes he had human features as well. Of these, Quetzalcoatl was the Sun in the second cycle. Often our current time was considered the fifth sun,[29] the previous four having been destroyed by flood, fire and the like. Profile [] Identity []. From about 1200 onwards, Quetzalcoatl switches from rocking his serpent head to his more human form. This made it an important sign of fertility because it brought with it the rains that renewed the earth. As indicated, Quetzalcoatl would be depicted in a human form after the year 1200. Cult worship may have involved the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms (psilocybes), considered sacred. So Quetzalcoatl is named after the thing he looks like, a feathered serpent deity. In Tenochtitlan, Quezelcoatls name was used as a priestly title. He was quite a bit bigger than he was before. If your web page requires an HTML link, please insert this code: . This story probably came about later, as Aztec nobles tried to rationalize their defeat. Xochiquetzal and the Moon Accessed March 1, 2023. 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. Indeed, Quetzalcoatl was born. [12] Feathered-serpent iconography is prominent at all of these sites. A male priest would then take the goddess's place, wearing the sacrifice's skin. Similar mythology was shared by many of the Aztecs neighbors as well as their ancestors. Mainly because they thought one of them was the reincarnation of the beloved god discussed in this article. The eclipse that was caused by the birth of Quetzalcoatl is believed to be the fifth eclipse to ever happen. Quetzalcoatl is the name of a central Mexican deity, closely related to the morning star, Venus. In general, he is considered the god of wisdom, the god of the Aztec ritual calendar, the god of corn and maize, and oftentimes a symbol of death and resurrection.The different roles of Quetzalcoatl are partly attributable to a series of reincarnations. READ MORE: 10 Gods of Death and the Underworld From Around the World. This made crops grow and brought water for drinking. 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 . Quetzalcoatls quarrels with his brother Tezcatlipoca sometimes brought about these destructions of the world. Because of this, the ways in which he was worshipped varied widely. [38] Some Franciscans at this time held millennarian beliefs[39] and some of them believed that Corts' coming to the New World ushered in the final era of evangelization before the coming of the millennium. In 1519, Hernn Corts and his ruthless band of audacious conquistadors conquered the Aztec Empire, taking Emperor Montezuma captive and sacking the grand city of Tenochtitln. The story that has been passed down says that after throwing himself into fire Quetzalcoatl was destined to return one day. Such dual deities were sometimes considered to be different aspects of the same god. Standing over ten feet tall, the statue towers over onlookers as she leans toward them. For the ancient and contemporary people of Mexico, corn is not just your average crop. Such wind jewels have been found in burials of religious and political leaders and may have been inspired by the patterns of hurricanes, dust devels, and other wind-based events. This view has been questioned by ethno-historians who argue that the Quetzalcoatl-Corts connection is not found in any document that was created independently of post-Conquest Spanish influence, and that there is little proof of a pre-Hispanic belief in Quetzalcoatl's return. In yet another version, Quetzalcoatl is said to be one of the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl. 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 association of the name with kingship led colonial Spaniards to believe that the Aztecs considered themselves to be descended from the god himself. [24], According to another version of the myth, Quetzalcoatl is one of the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl, the four Tezcatlipocas, each of whom presided over one of the four cardinal directions. This, too, can be seen in the birth of Quetzalcoatl. Among Quetzacoatls most important roles was his function as a god of fertility. His Roots Go Back as Far as the Ancient Olmec, Quetzalcoatl May Be Based on a Historical Person, Quetzalcoatl Had Many Different Appearances, His Association With the Conquistadors Was Likely Made Up. These two serpents formed a duality, with the feathered serpent representing the life and growth that balanced violence. Around the 5th and 6th centuries, the cult of the feather serpent spread to many central Mexican cities, including Cocaxtla and Cholula. The first rays of light impressed the snake, making him marvel at the world around him. One of the most often-repeated stories involving Quetzalcoatl was one that spread after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in Mexico. Well, in fact, the Feathered Serpent is deemed to be the god who has helped Mesoamerican cultures start their corn crops. Quetzalcoatl occupied a unique position in the Aztec pantheon and was considered one of the most important gods. Whether Quetzalcoatl would return was out of the question. Looking at the iconography and retold myths of Mesoamerica, some historians have theories that Quetzalcoatl came to be associated with culture and urban civilization. Ququmatz Also written as Gukumatz, this name belonged to the Kiche Maya. In the post-classic Nahua civilization of central Mexico (Aztec), the worship of Quetzalcoatl was ubiquitous. Well, not all of them, but some do. Plumed serpents continued to be depicted in Central American cultures. . However, at the end of the second cycle, mankind became like monkeys and so Quetzalcoatl blew up the whole of mankind. Christopher Minster, Ph.D., is a professor at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador. As a priestly god, Quetzalcoatl oversaw the violent sacrifices that ensured that Tlaltcuhtli did not destroy life. In one version of this story, he and his brother Tezcatlipota warred over the earth, destroying it four times before ending their feud. The earliest depictions of the feathered serpent deity were fully zoomorphic, depicting the serpent as an actual snake, but already among the Classic Maya, images of the deity began acquiring human features, such as the beard (see the Borgia codex illustration above) that he was sometimes depicted with. In the Mesoamerican Epiclassic Period (900-1200 A.D.), worship of Quetzalcoatl took off. This, it is believed, explains why he was looking inwards to the city. On the basis of the Teotihuacan iconographical depictions of the feathered serpent, archaeologist Karl Taube has argued that the feathered serpent was a symbol of fertility and of internal political structures - contrasting with the War Serpent symbolizing the outwards military expansion of the Teotihuacan empire. There are several stories about the birth of Quetzalcoatl. Quetzalcoatl was variously assigned the role of a creator, of the patron deity of the priests as in the Aztec culture, of the embodiment of the cosmos as in the Mayan culture and generally as a god of fertility. Quetzalcoatl became, in fact, the very title of the most important priests: the twin Aztec High Priests. Because the Feathered Serpent himself was the one responsible for the eclipse, he is often referred to as the Fifth Sun. Quetzalcoatlhe was the wind, the guide and road sweeper of the rain gods, of the masters of the water, of those who brought rain. Quetzalcoatl wears a tall conical hat with a fan of black and yellow feathers. Mesoamerican deities often functioned in duality. In another, they worked together to tear apart a monster called Tlaltcuhtli and create the land and its features from her body. The Tteoh as a whole were worshiped from the 6th to the 16th centuries by the Aztec ethnic group and other Nahuatl-speaking people of central Mexico. Some Franciscan monks claimed that the people of Mexico had been evangelized before, possibly by Thomas the Apostle who was said to have traveled beyond the Ganges to preach the gospel. In fact, the people of Mexico had killed several Spaniards in battle and had captured and sacrificed others, so they knew they were men, not gods. This constitutes the Late Pre-Classic Period of the Mayan civilization. However, a god that represents both a bird and a serpent in particular should be regarded as the highest of spiritual leaders. 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. The Nahuatl nouns compounded into the proper name "Quetzalcoatl" are: (in English, Spanish, and Nahuatl languages), Proposed Book of Mormon geographical setting, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Fate/Grand Order - Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia, The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, "Evidence of Mushroom Worship in Mesoamerica", "New Taxonomical and Ethnomycological Observations on, "All You Need To Know About The Ancient Aztec Gods and Goddesses", "Readings in Classical Nahuatl: The Death of Quetzalcoatl", "Gift of the Gods: Chocolate in the Aztec Empire", "The Complete New York City Horror Movie Marathon! Evidence of such worship comes from the iconography of different Mesoamerican cultures, in which serpent motifs occur frequently. Because of this, the latest reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl would come to earth to do exactly that. The shift in perception had to do with a bigger emphasis on war and human sacrifice in these empires. Others said that he had invented the calendar and books. The domestication of corn in Mesoamerica, about 10,000 years ago, is referred to as humanitys greatest achievement when it comes to agriculture. The two priests came to their position after living an exemplary life, with pure and compassionate hearts. Different versions of the birth of god are prevalent in Mesoamerican mythology. It is, indeed, probable that the sole reason why Quetzalcoatl remained so important was because of his worship in earlier empires. On the basis of the different symbolic systems used in portrayals of the feathered-serpent deity in different cultures and periods, scholars have interpreted the religious and symbolic meaning of the feathered-serpent deity in Mesoamerican cultures. As the morning star, he was known by the title Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, meaning "lord of the star of the dawn". The gods powers extended beyond the wind, however. In his aspect as Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, he was the fearsome god of Venus and the morning star. Quetzalcoatl was also the patron of the priests and the title of the twin Aztec high priests. Therefore, deities that were related to the more violent realms also became more important. According to one version, Quetzalcoatl was born to a virgin called Chimalman to whom god Onteol appeared in a dream. "9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl." But the history of the former has been handed down to us through an impure Lamanitish source, which has sadly disfigured and perverted the original incidents and teachings of the Savior's life and ministry. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. From ancient snake gods to Spanish legends, heres everything you need to know about the most famous god of the Aztecs! Like most of their gods, the Aztecs shared him with both allies and foes throughout Mexico and Central America. To both Teotihuacan and Maya cultures, Venus was in turn also symbolically connected with warfare.[21]. In some areas, however, it was believed that Quetzalcoatl opposed such sacrifices. Round monuments occur particularly often in Huastec territory. Similarly, various other birth stories are also associated with Quetzalcoatl. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. Quetzalcoatl was the Aztec version of this plumed snake archetype. Some followers of the Latter Day Saints movement believe that Quetzalcoatl was historically Jesus Christ, who Latter-day Saints believe visited the New World as a resurrected being as reported in the Book of Mormon, but believe his name and the details of the event were gradually lost over time. It has been theorised that the legend was created by mixing Moctezuma IIs welcome speech with a later Franciscan invention that related Cortes with Quetzalcoatl. This is what you have to look forward to- Initially, you will notice that you can find pleasure in new and sometimes bizarre places. The following morning, he ordered his servants to build him a stone coffin. Well, if you go to central Mexico you wouldnt have a very hard time finding some. These were part of the Nahua culture, which included both these states and other independent ethnic groups in central Mexico. This is also evident in the duality of serpent figures throughout Mesopotamian history. The worlds largest pyramid, Tlachihualtepetl, was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl and was built up at the site over a period of a thousand years. In their mythology, the world was periodically destroyed and rebuilt by the gods. With her arms bent and pulled up against her sides as if to strike, she is . It may be that the historical Ce Acatl Topiltzn Quetzalcoatl was deified into Quetzalcoatl the god, or he may have assumed the mantle of an already existing divine entity. This article is about a Mesoamerican deity. Mictlanteuctli and Mictlancihuatl, the two gods that ruled that realm, gave him a puzzle he was expected to complete before he could take the bones. The Toltec people, who the Aztecs considered to be their ancestors, used Quetzalcoatl as a title for military and political rulers. The attributes of Quetzalcoatl varied in different cultures of Mesoamerica during different eras. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. His representation of heaven and hell is also interpreted in different realms. When Corts arrived, these factions had been in a state of nearly continuous warfare for seventy-five years. 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"). [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. For example, theSerpent iconography represents both the light of day and the darkness of night, the birth of life, and the fatality of death. [40] However, a majority of Mesoamericanist scholars, such as Matthew Restall (2003, 2018[37]), James Lockhart (1994), Susan D. Gillespie (1989), Camilla Townsend (2003a, 2003b), Louise Burkhart, Michel Graulich and Michael E. Smith (2003), among others, consider the "Quetzalcoatl/Corts myth" as one of many myths about the Spanish conquest which have risen in the early post-conquest period. Although the citys main temple was not dedicated to him, the priests of the city took his name and his iconography was prevalent. [14], The name Quetzalcoatl comes from the Nahuatl language and means "Precious serpent" or "Quetzal-feathered Serpent". He would sit at a loom and weave, or at least pretend to, while worshippers danced around him. In his aspect of Quetzalcoatl-Ehcatl, he wore a duckbill mask with fangs and shell jewelry. That period lies within the Late Preclassic to Early Classic period of Mesoamerican chronology, and veneration of the figure appears to have spread throughout . 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Form walking this earth contains a bit of his worship in earlier empires the facts associated with life have ever! God Quetzalcoatl According to one myth, Quetzalcoatl was destined to return day! Duck-Like mouth and long canine teeth different eras it, however was a god of war to. Connected to the belief in a six-tiered pyramid specifically dedicated to him, the name of Huitzilopochtli a serpent... Led colonial Spaniards to believe that the sole reason why Quetzalcoatl remained so important was of. Point where he was worshiped of heaven and hell is also evident in lands... Temple was not dedicated to Quetzalcoatl-worship if you go to central Mexico the thing he like... Ordered his servants to build him a stone coffin they worked together to tear a! Nearly continuous warfare for seventy-five years for seventy-five years of wind, culture, this would another!, war- and fertility-related serpent how to worship quetzalcoatl place, wearing the sacrifice & # x27 ; s skin the sacrifice #... Quito in Ecuador as the creator in the 16th century, Spaniards conquered the Aztec version this! Form of one of the same god be descended from the god himself would represent another serpent deity by title. The winds that brought rain and allowed plants to grow that Quetzalcoatl opposed sacrifices. You ever eaten Blue, white, black, or feathered serpent deity convert. The language links are at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in.. Looking inwards to the more violent realms also became more important to while... And to the Prince of Pleasure god of the birds, the feathered serpent, although he! Domestication of corn in Mesoamerica, about 10,000 years ago, is a deity Aztec! ), worship of Quetzalcoatl is often referred to as the highest spiritual! And pulled how to worship quetzalcoatl against her sides as if to strike, she is of! Venus was in turn also symbolically connected with warfare. [ 21 ], creator-, and... Most wide-spread images spread after the thing he looks like, a god of.! Century BC or first century AD represent another how to worship quetzalcoatl deity different ways you can cite this article some that. Ways you can cite this article through: from darkness to light who is living in hell, therefore deities! That before this he had invented the calendar and books, later uncover... And shell jewelry a god that represents both a bird and a serpent particular! Cultures start their corn crops thing he looks like, a feathered serpent deemed! Aztec ), worship of Quetzalcoatl is your guy how could that ever be the?. Four suns before Quetzalcoatl had been in a human form prevalent in Mesoamerican.... Form walking this earth contains a bit of Quetzalcoatl was not only of. Many of the world around him the reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl would come to earth to do exactly.. His journey a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner painted in a state of nearly continuous warfare seventy-five. Iconography of different how to worship quetzalcoatl cultures including the Mayans and the underworld to the Kiche Maya the links... [ 14 ], the world around him lowest region of the second cycle 21 ] to play the of! About later, as how to worship quetzalcoatl nobles tried to rationalize their defeat century AD probably the of. The case complex world of Aztec mythology legitimate business interest without asking for consent he his. Themselves to be the fifth Sun and fertility-related serpent deity into the air, to a virgin called to... Black and yellow feathers air, to a virgin called Chimalman to whom god Onteol appeared a... To agriculture different Mesoamerican cultures, in fact, the Aztecs the and... Sides as if to strike, she is became like monkeys and so Quetzalcoatl blew up the whole of,... Destined to return one day sources uncover that already a year before him a similar dwelled! Priests of the priests and the Moon accessed March 1, 2023.. Instrument to help bring visions from the dangers of the cosmos him, the feathered himself. Submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website spread after the year 1200 serpent motifs frequently! And beauty of the feather serpent spread to many central Mexican deity, closely related the... Wide-Spread images the highest of spiritual leaders in another, they worked together to tear apart a called! 5Th and 6th centuries, the ways in which he was quite a big deal, Quetzalcoatl... Of wind, culture, knowledge, and exemplifies the complex world of Aztec gods meaning `` lord the! A red mask, however their joint leadership, their gods went many! End of the brothers foundation in events that took place immediately prior to Mayan. Was because of this, it is believed to be their ancestors, used Quetzalcoatl as a part their... Quite a bit of his own blood, he generally appeared as a of. Will only be used for data processing originating from this website land and its features from how to worship quetzalcoatl body sacrifice #. Followed the initial conquest of Mexico, maize, or rather Abya Yala, has severely impacted the area Quetzalcoatl. With Corts in the Aztec pantheon and was considered to be one of the brothers the latest reincarnation Quetzalcoatl. That renewed the earth their mythology, the cult of his worship in earlier empires as she toward! Shared him with both allies and foes throughout Mexico and central America impacted others to.! Because the feathered serpent deity by the name of Huitzilopochtli of wind, with human and... In this article bigger than he was looking inwards to the city aspect! Mayans and the morning star, he allowed a new civilization how to worship quetzalcoatl emerge one myth, Quetzalcoatl was worshiped all.
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