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. The worship of Miclantecuhtli was ongoing with the arrival of Europeans in the Americas. His name means Plumed Serpent, referring specifically to the green quetzal birds native to Central America. 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 . [47], In 1971 Tony Shearer published a book called Lord of the Dawn: Quetzalcoatl and the Tree of Life, inspiring New Age followers to visit Chichen Itza at the summer solstice when dragon-shaped shadows are cast by the Kulkulcan pyramid.[48]. In Aztec culture, depictions of Quetzalcoatl were fully anthropomorphic. In his form as Ehecatl he is the wind, and is represented by spider monkeys, ducks, and the wind itself. Each age of the world was given a new sun, and the world was on its Fifth Sun, having been destroyed four times previously. In the codices, he was generally more human-like. 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. He is a powerful and benevolent dragon-type entity associated with harvests, wild animals, the morning star ( Venus ), wind and rain. In these instances, he is often seen wearing a lot of jewelry and some form of a hat. This idea of return stemmed from a supposed speech given by Montezuma, the Aztec ruler, to Corts when the Spanish arrived at Tenochtitlan. What are the facts associated with this mysterious god? A famous Olmec stone carving, La Venta Monument 19, clearly shows a man seated in front of a feathered serpent. The language is spoken today in the highlands of central Guatemala. Aztec God Quetzalcoatl According to Aztec mythology, Earth had been through four cycles of Sun, each of which resulted in the destruction of mankind. Why is that? The first images of a similar feathered serpent date back to 900 BC, over two thousand years before the Aztecs came to dominate Central Mexico. He was worshiped among all the major cultures of the Mesoamerican region through history. The title of the twin Aztec high priests wasnt just Quetzalcoatl. These two serpents formed a duality, with the feathered serpent representing the life and growth that balanced violence. He also had anthropomorphic forms, for example in his aspects as Ehecatl the wind god. Some said that before this he had helped to create the world itself. [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]. 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. This is also evident in the duality of serpent figures throughout Mesopotamian history. His job was to protect the sun from the dangers of the underworld. Cortes continued to play the role of Quetzalcoatl for many years and eventually impacted others to convert. Mason-Dixon Line They kept the same gods but believed in a new story. As an Aztec deity, he was one of four sons of the creator god Ometeotl, associated with the wind god, and the patron god of arts and knowledge. However, at the end of the second cycle, mankind became like monkeys and so Quetzalcoatl blew up the whole of mankind. Hernn Corts, perhaps the most notorious colonizer, is often identified as this very reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl. His form of reincarnation, more specifically, would be that of a white person with a long beard. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. Names for Quetzalcoatl elsewhere included: In addition to these, it was likely that the feathered serpent god was known by dozens, possibly hundreds, of different names. However, a god that represents both a bird and a serpent in particular should be regarded as the highest of spiritual leaders. Similar mythology was shared by many of the Aztecs neighbors as well as their ancestors. This didnt help a lot to overcome their cruel intentions, however. Well, look no further, because Quetzalcoatl is your guy. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. 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. As Quetzalcoatl Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli he had a more intimidating appearance including a black mask or face paint, elaborate headdress and a weapon, such as an ax or lethal darts representing the rays of the morning star. 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. At this particular address, behind the green door, next . The two priests came to their position after living an exemplary life, with pure and compassionate hearts. So Quetzalcoatl is named after the thing he looks like, a feathered serpent deity. This is evident in the iconography recovered from these sites. To this day, new depictions of the creator deity can be found in Mexico. It is believed that the Feathered Serpent was responsible for all of it. In the 16th century, Spaniards conquered the Aztec Empire. Well, if you go to central Mexico you wouldnt have a very hard time finding some. Known as the Ehecailacozcatl, its swirling design represents the wind. Although the citys main temple was not dedicated to him, the priests of the city took his name and his iconography was prevalent. 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. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. After Topiltzin's exile, Toltec power began to decline. Several of the peoples of Eastern Mexico united with Corts in the belief that he would help them overthrow the Aztecs. This made it an important sign of fertility because it brought with it the rains that renewed the earth. . Based on this narrative, Quetzalcoatl is often cited as the Creator in the Aztec mythology. This made crops grow and brought water for drinking. 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. Quetzalcoatl by himself was a god of many things to the Toltecs and Aztecs. Quetzalcoatl was not only one of the most important deities in pre-Columbian Mexico, he was also one of the oldest. [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. Human worship. Are you still looking for a being that caused a solar eclipse? Later, Xavier and the Aztecs summon Quetzalcoatl in his mortal form and wind up angering him after cutting him open. This betterment meant something different with every new installment, which explains why many Aztec deities are related to different realms. His earrings are made of either jade or spiraling shells. Quetzalcoatl wears around his neck the breastplate ehcaczcatl, "the spirally voluted wind jewel". My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. Feathered serpents appear as early as 900 BC in parts of Mexico. The earliest Aztec and classic Maya serpent iconography can be found in a six-tiered pyramid specifically dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. Quetzalcoatl stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. These were part of the Nahua culture, which included both these states and other independent ethnic groups in central Mexico. 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. 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. The relation of Quetzalcoatl with just the latest sun is a result of the mingling of his earliest myths and some new perceptions. 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. 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 . [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. [25] Quetzalcoatl was often considered the god of the morning star, and his twin brother Xolotl was the evening star (Venus). The trip was far from easy, but Quetzalcoatl was able to complete it. Tlaloc blew the snake into the air, to a point where he was higher than the birds. Manage Settings READ MORE: Sun Gods: Ancient Solar Deities From Around the World. 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. In his aspect of Quetzalcoatl-Ehcatl, he wore a duckbill mask with fangs and shell jewelry. Although early images had shown a serpent, by the classical period of Aztec culture Quetzalcoatl was more often shown with a human body. Minster, Christopher. Aztec Gods Quetzalcoatl Tezcatlipoca Quetzalcoatl occupied a unique position in the Aztec pantheon and was considered one of the most important gods. [8] In his form as the morning star, Venus, he is also depicted as a harpy eagle. 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