The Toltecs and Nahuas worshiped the god before he was eventually adopted by the Aztecs. Most probably, this would represent another serpent deity by the name of Huitzilopochtli. 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. As shown by his spiral jewel, Quetzalcoatl was a god of wind. In these instances, he is often seen wearing a lot of jewelry and some form of a hat. In it, Montezuma welcomed the foreigner to take his throne which I have briefly kept for you.. The Aztecs eventually called Quetzalcoatl for help. 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. 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You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Rather than showing subservience to the invading Spaniards, Montezumas claim that Corts was a gracious ruler was a way of asserting dominance and showing disdain for the Spanish commander. Cortes continued to play the role of Quetzalcoatl for many years and eventually impacted others to convert. Later, Xavier and the Aztecs summon Quetzalcoatl in his mortal form and wind up angering him after cutting him open. It shows the first signs of a feathered serpent cult amongst ancient civilizations of the region. [need quotation to verify] Codex drawings pictured both Quetzalcoatl and Xolotl wearing an ehcaczcatl around the neck. The Toltecs greatly venerated Quetzalcoatl at their capital of Tula, and other major cities at the time also worshiped the feathered serpent. Quetzalcoatl was a deity which was a part of the pantheon of most Mesoamerican civilisations. Quetzalcoatl is the creator of all people and the giver of wisdom, corn, and the calendar. The colonization of Mesoamerica, or rather Abya Yala, has severely impacted the area where Quetzalcoatl was worshiped. Corn did exist, but it grew at a location that the ancient cultures were unable to reach. The Origin of Hotdogs, The History of Boracay Island in The Philippines. 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. In the Aztec religion, Chalchiuhtlicue was the goddess of water, but she was also the only Chalchiuhtlicue: The Aztec Goddess of Water, gods to Spanish legends, heres everything you need to know about the most famous god of the Aztecs. 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. When Corts arrived, these factions had been in a state of nearly continuous warfare for seventy-five years. It is also suggested that he was a son of Xochiquetzal and Mixcoatl. 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. For this reason, it is also believed that offers to Quetzalcoatl were one of only a few that should not include human sacrifice. Cult worship may have involved the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms (psilocybes), considered sacred. In fact, the then-current king himself, Moteuhzoma II, prophesied the return of Quetzalcoatl as a white-bearded person even if it would mean that hed have to give up his place on the throne. Similar mythology was shared by many of the Aztecs neighbors as well as their ancestors. Even today, however, Nahuatl is just one of sixty-three native languages recognized in Mexico. Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli The god of the Morning Star is sometimes considered to be separate from Quetzalcoatl, but is elsewhere given as one of the wind gods titles. The west is represented by Quetzalcoatl who is also the White Tezcatlipoca and the god of light, justice, mercy, and wind. His ashes rose into the sky and then his heart followed, becoming the morning star (see Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli). So it should be clear that Quetzalcoatl was, indeed, a great mythical figure. He would submerge himself in a highly flammable substance and set himself on fire, granting himself a place amongst the stars. Other than Teotihuacn, large worship places can be found in Xochicalco and Cacaxtla. That period lies within the Late Preclassic to Early Classic period of Mesoamerican chronology, and veneration of the figure appears to have spread throughout . [30], He is also attributed with having brought the cacao plant from a sacred mountain to the Toltec people, teaching the women how to make traditional drinking chocolate.[31]. 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. This talisman was a conch shell cut at the cross-section and was likely worn as a necklace by religious rulers, as such objects have been discovered in burials in archaeological sites throughout Mesoamerica,[6] and potentially symbolized patterns witnessed in hurricanes, dust devils, seashells, and whirlpools, which were elemental forces that had significance in Aztec mythology. The other serpent is normally seen as a war god, a war serpent symbolizing the military expansion of the Teotihuacan empire. He is usually called one of the Aztec gods, but even this identification only reveals a partial truth. Because there were so many languages and ethnic groups in Mesoamerica, their gods went by many names. Alternatively, he left willingly on a raft of snakes, promising to return. There are several stories about the birth of Quetzalcoatl. Quetzalcoatl's opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile. The cult even spread down into the Maya lands. "[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. These, then, are the people that still inhabit the world. 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. Quetzalcoatl was considered important in the pantheon of Aztec gods. To cite this article in an academic-style article or paper, use: Maup van de Kerkhof, "Quetzalcoatl: The Feathered Serpent Deity of Ancient Mesoamerica", History Cooperative, February 13, 2023, https://historycooperative.org/quetzalcoatl/. 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. Feathered serpents appear as early as 900 BC in parts of Mexico. Quetzalcoatl was a jack of many trades, a truth also reflected in the stories surrounding his birth. After only a couple of years, the Aztec empire ended due to a combination of foreign diseases and diplomacy. He was worshiped among all the major cultures of the Mesoamerican region through history. 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. This is also evident in the duality of serpent figures throughout Mesopotamian history. In Xochicalco, depictions of the feathered serpent accompany the image of a seated, armed ruler and the hieroglyph for the day sign 9 Wind. Getting the snake out of the cave had been Tlalocs only objective for months on end. Tlaltcuhtli was so upset at the loss of her own body that she demanded the hearts and blood of humans to appease her wrath. They also believed that the Aztec gods reflected aspects of their own religion. One of these groups centered around the city of Cholula, where the great pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. Different Mesoamerican groups had their own legends about Quetzalcoatl and placed emphasis on different domains. 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. In yet another version, Quetzalcoatl is said to be one of the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl. He is a former head writer at VIVA Travel Guides. With her arms bent and pulled up against her sides as if to strike, she is . Ehecatl In some Aztec areas, such as Tenochtitlan, this was another wind god with nearly identical iconography to Quetzalcoatl. In the modern era, however, many aspects of this legend have come into question. Christopher Minster, Ph.D., is a professor at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador. The ancient Olmec civilization lasted roughly from 1200 to 400 B.C. This is evident in the iconography recovered from these sites. The four suns before Quetzalcoatl had been destroyed by disastrous events, like floods, fires, and volcanic eruptions. According to this myth, the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl, one of them being Quetzalcoatl, represent the four cardinal directions. In some traditions, he was considered to be the creator of mankind. He is also a god of learning, reading, and books. 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? Similar gods would be used to represent the balance of two opposite powers. Before he left, however, he promised to return. Quetzalcoatl's link to erudition and religious dedication ensured his worship across Mesoamerica, and some priests of high rank were anointed with his name. A lot of cultures such as the Maya, Toltecs, Aztecs, and many polities in Central Mexico used to worship the deity Quetzalcoatl during Postclassic period. The Toltec people, who the Aztecs considered to be their ancestors, used Quetzalcoatl as a title for military and political rulers. The legend reports that Quetzalcoatl was a peaceful king and priest of Tollan, but he was deceived by Tezcatlipoca and his followers, who practiced human sacrifice and violence. But still, how could that ever be the case? Followers of the war god rebelled, however, forcing Topiltzin and his fol-lowers into exile on the Yucatn peninsula. This constitutes the Late Pre-Classic Period of the Mayan civilization. These were part of the Nahua culture, which included both these states and other independent ethnic groups in central Mexico. While in his own story, this was not all too literal, his actions that followed were actually the literal interpretation of his promise. Among these Mesoamerican gods, Quetzalcoatl was also one of the oldest. Corts himself claimed in a letter that the gullibility of the Aztec people helped him to conquer them. It is believed that the Feathered Serpent was responsible for all of it. [23], The exact significance and attributes of Quetzalcoatl varied somewhat between civilizations and through history. A male priest would then take the goddess's place, wearing the sacrifice's skin. This would oppose the other serpent rising in the exact opposite direction, namely outwards. While Quetzacoatl is one of the most well-known gods of ancient Mexico, he is often misunderstood. After a slapstick-style chase scene, Xavier winds up as the Sun God and commits "sacricide" (sacrificial suicide), ending the skit. Thats quite a big deal, because for the people in ancient Mexico, maize, or corn, is not just a crop. Dated to around 900 BC, it depicts a serpent rising up behind a person probably engaged in a shamanic ritual. 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. His appearance can change drastically, however, depending on the region, era, and context. From about 1200 onwards, Quetzalcoatl switches from rocking his serpent head to his more human form. Quetzalcoatl is a form of one of Mesoamericas most wide-spread images. In Aztec language, his name indicated him to be a boundary between the Earth and the sky. Mictlantecuhtli was the Aztec god of death and the principle god of the underworld. ThoughtCo. Such dual deities were sometimes considered to be different aspects of the same god. The temple of Quetzalcatl at Tenochtitln, the Aztec capital, was a round building, a shape that fitted the god's personality as Ehcatl. 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. In the post-classic Nahua civilization of central Mexico (Aztec), the worship of Quetzalcoatl was ubiquitous. To both Teotihuacan and Maya cultures, Venus was in turn also symbolically connected with warfare.[21]. How old is the United States of America? 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. Some said that before this he had helped to create the world itself. The following morning, he ordered his servants to build him a stone coffin. In the post-classic Nahua civilization of central Mexico (Aztec), the worship of Quetzalcoatl was ubiquitous. The worship of Quetzalcoatl is wide-reaching, has a rich history, and exemplifies the complex world of Aztec mythology. Ruler of the, Nicholson 2001, Carrasco 1982, Gillespie 1989, Florescano 2002, Lafaye 1987, Townsend 2003, Martnez 1980, Phelan 1970. 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. Instead, these stories were probably the invention of Franciscan monks who followed the initial conquest of Mexico. 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. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Xolotl Among the Aztecs, this was Quetzalcoatls twin. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322. [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. 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. According to a Toltec legend, their civilization (which dominated Central Mexico from approximately 900-1150 A.D.) was founded by a great hero, Ce Acatl Topiltzn Quetzalcoatl. For the ancient and contemporary people of Mexico, corn is not just your average crop. Human worship. This story probably came about later, as Aztec nobles tried to rationalize their defeat. Aztec God Quetzalcoatl According to Aztec mythology, Earth had been through four cycles of Sun, each of which resulted in the destruction of mankind. However, this legend likely has a foundation in events that took place immediately prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. Quetzalcoatl was not only one of the most important deities in pre-Columbian Mexico, he was also one of the oldest. READ MORE: 10 Gods of Death and the Underworld From Around the World. He was quite a bit bigger than he was before. This, too, meant the end of the god Quetzalcoatl. The god in human form taught them to cultivate corn seeds, to work with jade, gold and obsidian, how to dye cotton, the art of astronomy, he enriched their writing, promoted the worship of the gods and forbade human sacrifices, teaching them self-sacrifice by pricking themselves with maguey thorns instead. Although this proves that the concept of a divine feathered serpent has been around a long time, most historians agree that the cult of Quetzalcoatl did not come about until the late Classic era, hundreds of years later. He used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create mankind. Have you ever eaten blue, white, black, or red corn? While drunk, Quetzalcoatl seduced his sister, a celibate priestess. Eventually, this led to the fact that the four brothers became the creators of the universe, together referred to as the Tezcatlipocas. Furthermore, he saw the Quetzal birds flying in the sky, which was also something he had never seen before. Well, look no further, because Quetzalcoatl is your guy. In tracing the history of the worship of Quetzalcoatl, it is necessary to go back to the dawn of Mesoamerican civilization. His name in many cultures translated to Feathered Serpent and he was depicted in many iconographic illustrations. Quetzalcoatl has been worshiped by all the major Mesoamerican cultures including the Mayans and the Aztecs. While other gods had relied on brute force for reaching the other side, Quetzalcoatl relied on intelligence in order to reach the maize. The first documented worship of Quetzalcoatl is found in Theotihuacan during the first century BC or first century AD. (Restall 2001 p. 114)[full citation needed]. This betterment meant something different with every new installment, which explains why many Aztec deities are related to different realms. A Walking Tour of the Maya Capital of Chichn Itz, The Chac Mool Sculptures of Ancient Mexico, Influence of the Olmec Civilization on Mesoamerica. 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. He also has red and green feathers around his head and back. In his aspect as Quetzalcoatl Ehcatl he was the benign god of wind, who brought rains for crops and who brought back the bones of humankind from the underworld, allowing for the resurrection of the species. The Nahua largely spoke dialects of the same language, Nahuatl, which helped to unify their culture. Quetzalcoatl wears around his neck the breastplate ehcaczcatl, "the spirally voluted wind jewel". 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"). Occasionally, he is accompanied by his namesake quetzal bird. Quetzalcoatl became linked with the maize crop thanks to ancient legends. Indeed, the same as the one from the Great Pyramid. 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. Different versions of the birth of god are prevalent in Mesoamerican mythology. READ MORE: Sun Gods: Ancient Solar Deities From Around the World. Some Mormons believe that Quetzalcoatl, who was associated with the east, (which in turn was represented by the color white to the Aztecs), was white-skinned. . C catl Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl [s kat topiltsin ketsalkoat] ( Our Prince One-Reed Precious Serpent) (c. 895-947) is a mythologised figure appearing in 16th-century accounts of Nahua historical traditions, [5] where he is identified as a ruler in the 10th century of the Toltecs by Aztec tradition their . 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. However, independent historical sources do not substantiate this claim and later historians have disputed it as well. His job was to protect the sun from the dangers of the underworld. Quetzalcoatl was also the patron of the priests and the title of the twin Aztec high priests. His emotional bond with the shy snake grew during this period, so he decided to help him realize his dreams. But even things of an extremely mundane nature like s. It is not a coincidence that Quetzalcoatl is just as often referred to as the Feathered Serpent by his worshipers and historians. Members of this confederacy from Tlaxcala, Puebla, and Oaxaca provided the Spaniards with the army that first reclaimed the city of Cholula from its pro-Aztec ruling faction, and ultimately defeated the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan (Mexico City). Xochiquetzal and the Moon Some legends describe him as opposed to human sacrifice[26] while others describe him practicing it.[27][28]. The shift in perception had to do with a bigger emphasis on war and human sacrifice in these empires. For more details, Wikipedia is a good resource. Although some Mesoamericans believed that Quetzalcoatl did not enjoy human sacrifices, others believed that his creation myth demanded them. ] Codex drawings pictured both Quetzalcoatl and Xolotl wearing an ehcaczcatl around the world relied on intelligence order. Among these Mesoamerican gods, but it grew at a location that the gullibility of Aztecs... The creators of the same god submerge himself in a shamanic ritual all of it relied on brute for. So many languages and ethnic groups in Mesoamerica, or rather Abya Yala, has impacted! Brute force for reaching the other side, Quetzalcoatl was, indeed, a priestess... Briefly kept for you angering him after cutting him how to worship quetzalcoatl, era,,... 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