[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. And, it wasnt so bad after all. His body is usually black, a color that represents the north in Aztec art. In art, he is represented by various animal symbols such as quetzals, rattlesnakes, crows, and macaws. All but one. While the other snakes told him he would never be able to do so, the rain god Tlaloc had other plans. The temple can be found at Teotihuacan and was erected in the third century. 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. 5D's, Beyblade: Metal Fusion, Fate/Grand Order - Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia and Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid (the latter two depicting Quetzalcoatl as a female dragon deity); the Megami Tensei video game franchise; the video games Fate/Grand Order, Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy XV, Sanitarium, Smite (as an alternate costume for his Mayan counterpart, Kukulkan), and Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine; as the main antagonist in the Star Trek: The Animated Series episode "How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth"; and in The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel books. Among the Aztecs, the name Quetzalcoatl was also a priestly title, as the two most important priests of the Aztec Templo Mayor were called "Quetzalcoatl Tlamacazqui". Quetzalcoatls twin, Xolotl, was a god associated with death. Amazed by the grace and beauty of the birds, the snake decided his destiny was to fly like them. While in his own story, this was not all too literal, his actions that followed were actually the literal interpretation of his promise. Venus, which the god was closely associated with, appeared in the sky at the beginning of the rainy season. In their mythology, the world was periodically destroyed and rebuilt by the gods. Tlaloc blew the snake into the air, to a point where he was higher than the birds. 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. There, they greatly influenced late Mayan culture. The association of the name with kingship led colonial Spaniards to believe that the Aztecs considered themselves to be descended from the god himself. 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. Rather, one was named Quetzalcoatl Totec Tlamacazqui, and the other one Quetzalcoatl Tlaloc Tlamacazqui. It was here that the name Quetzalcoatl was given to him by his Nahua followers. In some traditions, he was considered to be the creator of mankind. The Toltecs and Nahuas worshiped the god before he was eventually adopted by the Aztecs. By 1200 AD, Quetzalcoatls iconography had become more fixed. 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. [10], The earliest known documentation of the worship of a Feathered Serpent occurs in Teotihuacan in the first century BC or first century AD. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. The worship of Quetzalcoatl became widespread with the rise of the Toltec civilization around 900 A.D. and spread throughout the region, even down to the Yucatan peninsula where it caught on with the Maya. Indeed, Tlaloc can be traced back to the earliest myths of the civilization of Teotihuacan. 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. The worlds largest pyramid, Tlachihualtepetl, was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl and was built up at the site over a period of a thousand years. . 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. While this legend is disputed, it is clear that Quetzalcoatl was an important deity to the Aztecs and other people of Mexico and Central America. By the 3rd century AD this was recognizable as a god, who had a pyramid dedicated to his honor in the city of Teotihuacn. For example, a depiction in Acapulco, Mexico, shows the Aztec snake god in all its glory. It is, indeed, probable that the sole reason why Quetzalcoatl remained so important was because of his worship in earlier empires. One of the most often-repeated stories involving Quetzalcoatl was one that spread after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in Mexico. While other gods had relied on brute force for reaching the other side, Quetzalcoatl relied on intelligence in order to reach the maize. There is no surviving account of this myth in native sources, however. Christopher Minster, Ph.D., is a professor at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador. He appears in Post-classic tales from the Maya, Toltec, and Aztec cultures. Quetzalcoatl appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Thor: Love and Thunder. [18][need quotation to verify]. Represented as the plumed serpent, Quetzalcoatl was also seen as manifest in the wind, one of the most powerful forces of nature; a text in the Nahuatl language captures this relationship: Quetzalcoatl; yn ehecatl ynteiacancauh yntlachpancauh in tlaloque, yn aoaque, yn qujqujiauhti. Where once feathered snakes were worshiped all over, after the Spanish conquest the locals were forced into worshiping Jesus Christ. 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. It was not just a populist idea that gained interest in Aztec society. 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. Quetzalcoatl is a form of one of Mesoamericas most wide-spread images. 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. Subtleties in, and an imperfect scholarly understanding of, high Nahuatl rhetorical style make the exact intent of these comments tricky to ascertain, but Restall argues that Moctezuma's politely offering his throne to Corts (if indeed he did ever give the speech as reported) may well have been meant as the exact opposite of what it was taken to mean: politeness in Aztec culture was a way to assert dominance and show superiority. [37] This speech, which has been widely referred to, has been a factor in the widespread belief that Moctezuma was addressing Corts as the returning god Quetzalcoatl. 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. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. Among Quetzacoatls most important roles was his function as a god of fertility. Toltec religion. In sculptures adorning temples throughout ancient Mexico, he generally appeared as a plumed serpent, although sometimes he had human features as well. The ancient Olmec civilization lasted roughly from 1200 to 400 B.C. If your web page requires an HTML link, please insert this code: . 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. "9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl." This story probably came about later, as Aztec nobles tried to rationalize their defeat. He was a creator deity having contributed essentially to the creation of mankind. (Restall 2001 p. 114)[full citation needed]. Excessive politeness was actually used in Nahuatl rhetoric to express the opposite meaning. Eventually, this led to the fact that the four brothers became the creators of the universe, together referred to as the Tezcatlipocas. Quetzalcoatl was also linked with Aztec priesthood and one of the two high priests in the famous Templo Mayor of Tenochtitlan assumed the title of Quetzalcoatl. Incest is nothing new in mythology, but seducing a celibate priestess might be. ", "Method and Skepticism (and Quetzalcoatl)", "Quetzalcoatl, the Maya maize god and Jesus Christ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Quetzalcoatl&oldid=1141156375, Supernatural beings identified with Christian saints, Articles containing Classical Nahuatl-language text, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles having different image on Wikidata and Wikipedia, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from August 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2019, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from June 2021, All articles that may contain original research, Articles that may contain original research from June 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2012, Articles with incomplete citations from April 2020, Articles with Spanish-language sources (es), Articles with sources in Nahuatl languages (nah), Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, White Tecatlipoca, Ce Acatl Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl, Feathered Serpent, Precious Twin, Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, Tlaloc, god of rain, lightning and thunder, the feathered serpent, god of vegetational renewal, This page was last edited on 23 February 2023, at 17:09. From about 1200 onwards, Quetzalcoatl switches from rocking his serpent head to his more human form. Like many other Mesoamerican deities, the story of our god sees several reincarnations. So it should be clear that Quetzalcoatl was, indeed, a great mythical figure. His emotional bond with the shy snake grew during this period, so he decided to help him realize his dreams. Some scholarship maintains the view that the Aztec Empire's fall may be attributed in part to the belief in Corts as the returning Quetzalcoatl, notably in works by David Carrasco (1982), H. B. Nicholson (2001 (1957)) and John Pohl (2016). Quetzalcoatl's opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile. 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. His name means Plumed Serpent, referring specifically to the green quetzal birds native to Central America. 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. Quetzalcoatl stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. Quetzalcoatlhe was the wind, the guide and road sweeper of the rain gods, of the masters of the water, of those who brought rain. The temple of Quetzalcatl at Tenochtitln, the Aztec capital, was a round building, a shape that fitted the god's personality as Ehcatl. 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. You have graciously arrived, you have known pain, you have known weariness, now come on earth, take your rest, enter into your palace, rest your limbs; may our lords come on earth. But also, his role and what he represented changed during every installment of his being.Divine messengers would talk with the god, asking for assistance in reaching the other side of the mountain: the location of the corn. The title of the twin Aztec high priests wasnt just Quetzalcoatl. In the post-classic Nahua civilization of central Mexico (Aztec), the worship of Quetzalcoatl was ubiquitous. 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. Quetzalcoatl is but one of the Aztec gods and goddesses that has animal-like characteristics. The attributes of Quetzalcoatl varied in different cultures of Mesoamerica during different eras. The shift in perception had to do with a bigger emphasis on war and human sacrifice in these empires. Because there were so many languages and ethnic groups in Mesoamerica, their gods went by many names. 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. Most probably, this would represent another serpent deity by the name of Huitzilopochtli. Carrasco's work was revised in 2000, and the new edition provides a valuable overview of the controversy about Cortes and Quetzalcoatl. Tlaloc we already know. In these instances, he is often seen wearing a lot of jewelry and some form of a hat. In tracing the history of the worship of Quetzalcoatl, it is necessary to go back to the dawn of Mesoamerican civilization. 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. Different cultures associated him with priesthood and kingship, further complicating his mythology in later retellings. Please like and share this article if you found it useful. As a priestly god, Quetzalcoatl oversaw the violent sacrifices that ensured that Tlaltcuhtli did not destroy life. Each represented a color and a cardinal direction, with Quetzalcoatl being the only god that wasnt related to war or human sacrifice. After months of rain, the snake was forced to come out of the cave. [14], The name Quetzalcoatl comes from the Nahuatl language and means "Precious serpent" or "Quetzal-feathered Serpent". It has been suggested that these stories recall the spread of the feathered-serpent cult in the epi-classic and early post-classic periods.[12]. 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). This is evident in the iconography recovered from these sites. Mexico's flagship airline Aeromxico has a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner painted in a special Quetzalcoatl livery. On the basis of the iconography of the feathered-serpent deity at sites such as Teotihuacan, Xochicalco, Chichn Itz, Tula and Tenochtitlan combined with certain ethnohistorical sources, historian David Carrasco has argued that the preeminent function of the feathered-serpent deity throughout Mesoamerican history was as the patron deity of the urban center - a god of culture and civilization. Different Mesoamerican groups had their own legends about Quetzalcoatl and placed emphasis on different domains. 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. Did the Incas worship Quetzalcoatl? I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. During the Post-Classic Period (900AD-1519AD), the main center of Quetzalcoatls worship was Cholula. 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. At Cholula, however, the gods cult is most evident. As a double of Quetzalcoatl, he carries his conch-like ehecailacacozcatl or wind jewel.Xolotl accompanied Quetzalcoatl to Mictlan, the land of the dead, or the underworld, to retrieve the bones from . Over time, Quetzalcoatl's appearance, clothing, malevolent nature, and status among the gods were reshaped to fit a more Christian framework. The God Quetzalcoatl definitely has a link of some sort to this hero. 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. Indeed, it turned out that this was the only viable option since the snake wasnt planning on moving for other reasons. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. The Toltecs greatly venerated Quetzalcoatl at their capital of Tula, and other major cities at the time also worshiped the feathered serpent. Others said that he had invented the calendar and books. The Origin of Hotdogs, The History of Boracay Island in The Philippines. Such dual deities were sometimes considered to be different aspects of the same god. His earrings are made of either jade or spiraling shells. Quetzalcoatl became linked with the maize crop thanks to ancient legends. 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. Quetzalcoatl became, in fact, the very title of the most important priests: the twin Aztec High Priests. 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. Drunkenness was forbidden, so Tezcatlipoca disguised himself as a medicine man and offered Quetzalcoatl alcohol disguised as a medicinal potion. Ququmatz Also written as Gukumatz, this name belonged to the Kiche Maya. Chichen Itza is famous for its Temple of Kukulcn, which was their name for Quetzalcoatl. The Aztecs did have their own story surrounding Quetzalcoatl becoming one of the brothers. There are several stories about the birth of Quetzalcoatl. The worship of this deity has been traced back to as early as the first century BC. For the giant pterosaur, see, God of life, light and wisdom, lord of the day and the winds. Latter-day Saint author Brant Gardner, after investigating the link between Quetzalcoatl and Jesus, concluded that the association amounts to nothing more than folklore. He used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create mankind. 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. This, too, meant the end of the god Quetzalcoatl. Cortes continued to play the role of Quetzalcoatl for many years and eventually impacted others to convert. 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