how to worship quetzalcoatl
According to this myth, the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl, one of them being Quetzalcoatl, represent the four cardinal directions. related to the belief in a sky-, Venus-, creator-, war- and fertility-related serpent deity. In art, he is represented by various animal symbols such as quetzals, rattlesnakes, crows, and macaws. The city was known as the center of Quetzalcoatls worship. The gods powers extended beyond the wind, however. However, this legend likely has a foundation in events that took place immediately prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. Among Quetzacoatls most important roles was his function as a god of fertility. Although probably not exactly a depiction of the same feathered-serpent deity worshipped in classic and post-classic periods, it shows the continuity of symbolism of feathered snakes in Mesoamerica from the formative period and on, for example in comparison to the Maya Vision Serpent shown below. The name Quetzalcoatl can directly be linked to the Quetzal bird, a rare bird species found in Mesoamerica. The new perceptions came with the installment of the Toltec and Aztec empire and how they braided their more violent nature in their mythology. And when their march inland took them to the Aztec emperor's doorstep . Mictlantecuhtli was the Aztec god of death and the principle god of the underworld. [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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Gods of Death His appearance can change drastically, however, depending on the region, era, and context. The Name Quetzalcoatl Archaeological sites in Mexico City have street addresses, not GPS coordinates, as sites tend to elsewhere. 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. At the end of the fourth cycle, when mankind had perished again according to the mythology, Quetzalcoatl created a new people with his blood. [45][46] The deity has been featured as a character in the manga and anime series Yu-Gi-Oh! 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. If this speech was actually given, its likely that ignorance of Aztec customs and Nahuatl speech patterns was to blame for giving the impression that Montezuma was willingly handing over power to a divine being. While at first a fully zoomorphic feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl would later be represented in his human form. The Church of Latter Day Saints, better known as the Mormons, teaches that Jesus Christ walked the Earth after his resurrection, spreading the word of Christianity to all corners of the globe. Over time, Quetzalcoatl's appearance, clothing, malevolent nature, and status among the gods were reshaped to fit a more Christian framework. Rise early to appreciate the magnificence of her rising, and try to spend some time soaking up her warmth whenever you can. Hernan Cortes, who led the Spaniards, was first invited into the city by Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II. 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. One of the most often-repeated stories involving Quetzalcoatl was one that spread after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in Mexico. The meaning of his name is "Winged Serpent" or "Feathered Serpent". READ MORE: Water Gods and Sea Gods From Around the World. Cult worship may have involved the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms (psilocybes), considered sacred. It shows the first signs of a feathered serpent cult amongst ancient civilizations of the region. Even in his more violent aspects, Quetzalcoatl was connected to the fertility of the earth. Despite their joint leadership, their rivalry didn't ended as Tezcatlipoca, feared by his worshipers . Among the Aztecs, it was related to wind, Venus, Sun, merchants, arts, crafts, knowledge, and learning. 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. After Topiltzin's exile, Toltec power began to decline. At Cholula, however, the gods cult is most evident. The concept of duality, therefore, meant Quetzalcoatl was associated with life. The relation of Quetzalcoatl with just the latest sun is a result of the mingling of his earliest myths and some new perceptions. As the story goes, the Aztec believed in a white, bearded god named Quetzalcoatl, who, long ago, had disappeared into the east. It is believed that the Feathered Serpent was responsible for all of it. Having been in awe of the sun and its light, the snake decided to fly toward the sun. Rather than the conquistador himself being the wind god, however, it was that his army allowed the Puebla and their allies to reclaim the pyramid of Tlachihualtepetl, the center of Quezalcoatls cult. This, it is believed, explains why he was looking inwards to the city. Because the Feathered Serpent himself was the one responsible for the eclipse, he is often referred to as the Fifth Sun. Quetzalcoatl, or "Feathered Serpent," was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. Looking at the iconography and retold myths of Mesoamerica, some historians have theories that Quetzalcoatl came to be associated with culture and urban civilization. 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. Quetzalcoatl appears in many ancient Mesoamerican codices, sculptures and reliefs. Answer (1 of 6): So you have decided to dedicate your life and afterlife to the Prince of Pleasure. Quetzalcoatl stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. It was also the patron god of the Aztec priesthood. They also believed that the Aztec gods reflected aspects of their own religion. [7] Animals thought to represent Quetzalcoatl include resplendent quetzals, rattlesnakes (coatl meaning "serpent" in Nahuatl), crows, and macaws. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. 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. Although early images had shown a serpent, by the classical period of Aztec culture Quetzalcoatl was more often shown with a human body. [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. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. Quetzalcoatl was associated with the wind-god Ehecatl and is often depicted with his insignia: a beak-like mask. 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. So it should be clear that Quetzalcoatl was, indeed, a great mythical figure. (Many academics conclude this passage implies incest.) In the underworld, Quetzalcoatl went all the way to Mictln; the lowest region of the Aztec underworld. Xochiquetzal and the Moon 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. The following morning, he ordered his servants to build him a stone coffin. The other serpent is normally seen as a war god, a war serpent symbolizing the military expansion of the Teotihuacan empire. Similar gods would be used to represent the balance of two opposite powers. Xolotl Among the Aztecs, this was Quetzalcoatls twin. The History of Guns, Greek Mythology: Stories, Characters, Gods, and Culture, Aztec Mythology: Important Stories and Characters, Greek Gods and Goddesses: Family Tree and Fun Facts, Roman Gods and Goddesses: The Names and Stories of 29 Ancient Roman Gods, How Quetzalcoatl Created and Sustained Humans, How Quetzalcoatl Became Part of the Tezcatlipocas, Aztec and Maya Serpent Imagery of Quetzalcoatl, Water Gods and Sea Gods From Around the World, Sun Gods: Ancient Solar Deities From Around the World, 10 Gods of Death and the Underworld From Around the World, Herne the Hunter: Spirit of Windsor Forest, Sif: The Golden-Haired Goddess of the Norse, iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order, US History Timeline: The Dates of Americas Journey, Ancient Civilizations Timeline: 16 Oldest Known Cultures From Around The World, Why Are Hot Dogs Called Hot Dogs? Latter-day Saint author Brant Gardner, after investigating the link between Quetzalcoatl and Jesus, concluded that the association amounts to nothing more than folklore. Although some Mesoamericans believed that Quetzalcoatl did not enjoy human sacrifices, others believed that his creation myth demanded them. Getting the snake out of the cave had been Tlalocs only objective for months on end. Quetzalcoatl was a jack of many trades, a truth also reflected in the stories surrounding his birth. The earliest known iconographic depiction of the deity appears on Stela 19 at the Olmec site of La Venta. 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". Amazed by the grace and beauty of the birds, the snake decided his destiny was to fly like them. In a version of the myth, Quetzalcoatl was born by a virgin named Chimalman, to whom the god Ometeotl appeared in a dream. Quetzelcoatl also appeared on (Season 3) of the Animal Planet mockumentary Lost Tapes in an episode entitled "Q the Serpent God". [24] In another story, the virgin Chimalman conceived Quetzalcoatl by swallowing an emerald. 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. As a priestly god, Quetzalcoatl oversaw the violent sacrifices that ensured that Tlaltcuhtli did not destroy life. 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. Mainly because they thought one of them was the reincarnation of the beloved god discussed in this article. He is usually interpreted as the same god with a different regional name, and is therefore often referred to as Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl. Over the South presides the Blue Tezcatlipoca, Huitzilopochtli, the god of war. 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. He was worshiped among all the major cultures of the Mesoamerican region through history. Whether Quetzalcoatl would return was out of the question. In one myth tied to this belief, the two killed a great monster and used its body to craft the world. The four suns before Quetzalcoatl had been destroyed by disastrous events, like floods, fires, and volcanic eruptions. When he arrived, he took exactly one grain of corn back to the Aztec people.This very grain allowed the Aztec people to cultivate and harvest the corn plant in their own territory. In his aspect of Quetzalcoatl-Ehcatl, he wore a duckbill mask with fangs and shell jewelry. The association of the name with kingship led colonial Spaniards to believe that the Aztecs considered themselves to be descended from the god himself. Remember, he has already been deemed a god. Mexico's flagship airline Aeromxico has a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner painted in a special Quetzalcoatl livery. The city of Cholula, in particular, was known for the importance it laid on the deity of the feathered serpent. He is a powerful and benevolent dragon-type entity associated with harvests, wild animals, the morning star ( Venus ), wind and rain. 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/. 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. From ancient snake gods to Spanish legends, heres everything you need to know about the most famous god of the Aztecs! Alternatively, he left willingly on a raft of snakes, promising to return. His ashes rose into the sky and then his heart followed, becoming the morning star (see Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli). The worship of Miclantecuhtli was ongoing with the arrival of Europeans in the Americas. On the other hand, the snake was considered a vital instrument to help bring visions from the underworld to the Mayan kings. Quetzalcoatl was considered important in the pantheon of Aztec gods. There was one way that would certainly work, namely by letting it rain so abundantly that the snake simply drifted out of the cave. 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. 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. [12] In the Postclassic period (9001519AD), the worship of the feathered-serpent deity centered in the primary Mexican religious center of Cholula. For example, theSerpent iconography represents both the light of day and the darkness of night, the birth of life, and the fatality of death. There is no surviving account of this myth in native sources, however. During the epi-classic period, a dramatic spread of feathered serpent iconography is evidenced throughout Mesoamerica, and during this period images begin to figure prominently at sites such as Chichn Itz, El Tajn, and throughout the Maya area. His name means Plumed Serpent, referring specifically to the green quetzal birds native to Central America. Indeed, the same as the one from the Great Pyramid. Accessed March 1, 2023. Quetzalcoatl, or "Feathered Serpent," was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. Some said that before this he had helped to create the world itself. 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. Quetzalcoatlhe was the wind, the guide and road sweeper of the rain gods, of the masters of the water, of those who brought rain. Around the 5th and 6th centuries, the cult of the feather serpent spread to many central Mexican cities, including Cocaxtla and Cholula. 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. Later, Xavier and the Aztecs summon Quetzalcoatl in his mortal form and wind up angering him after cutting him open. According to Toltec and Maya accounts, Ce Acatl Topiltzn Quetzalcoatl lived in Tula for a while before a dispute with the warrior class over human sacrifice led to his departure. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. He also had anthropomorphic forms, for example in his aspects as Ehecatl the wind god. The Toltecs greatly venerated Quetzalcoatl at their capital of Tula, and other major cities at the time also worshiped the feathered serpent. Ququmatz Also written as Gukumatz, this name belonged to the Kiche Maya. I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. After the eclipse of the fourth sun, Quetzalcoatl would go on a trip to the underworld. READ MORE: Sun Gods: Ancient Solar Deities From Around the World. Most Mesoamerican beliefs included cycles of suns. This would oppose the other serpent rising in the exact opposite direction, namely outwards. For example, the Aztecs revered him as the god of the priesthood, knowledge, and trade. Occasionally, he is accompanied by his namesake quetzal bird. Quetzalcoatls twin, Xolotl, was a god associated with death. Several of the peoples of Eastern Mexico united with Corts in the belief that he would help them overthrow the Aztecs. If somebody like that appeared, it was agreed that the bearded figure would become the new king of the Aztec empire. Similarly, various other birth stories are also associated with Quetzalcoatl. [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. 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. Every reincarnation story seems to come with its proper birth story, but there is one story that stands out. For more details, Wikipedia is a good resource. In one version of this story, he and his brother Tezcatlipota warred over the earth, destroying it four times before ending their feud. The Toltec people, who the Aztecs considered to be their ancestors, used Quetzalcoatl as a title for military and political rulers. The Teotihuacan iconographical depictions are often interpreted as a version where Quetzalcoatl played the role of a fertility-related serpent deity. His body is usually black, a color that represents the north in Aztec art. His form of reincarnation, more specifically, would be that of a white person with a long beard. The floods, too, caused great disaster to the earth in general. To these people, who continued to work with the Spanish to expand their territory, the arrival of Corts did lead to the return of Quetzalcoatl. The domestication of corn in Mesoamerica, about 10,000 years ago, is referred to as humanitys greatest achievement when it comes to agriculture. 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. In another, they worked together to tear apart a monster called Tlaltcuhtli and create the land and its features from her body. . The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. Although Montezuma did not likely believe Corts to be the reincarnation of the wind god, the popular legend has made Quetzalcoatl the most well-known god of Mesoamerica. Ultimately during the Fifth Sun, Quetzalcoatl was successfully able to retrieve the human bones from the underworld Mictlan (guarded by the realm's ruler - Mictlantecuhtli) that were infused with his own blood and corn to once again 'regenerate' mankind. 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. [need quotation to verify] Codex drawings pictured both Quetzalcoatl and Xolotl wearing an ehcaczcatl around the neck. 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. Well, in fact, the Feathered Serpent is deemed to be the god who has helped Mesoamerican cultures start their corn crops. Minster, Christopher. 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. 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. Quetzalcoatl stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. 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. In Xochicalco, depictions of the feathered serpent accompany the image of a seated, armed ruler and the hieroglyph for the day sign 9 Wind. Other parties have also promulgated the idea that the Mesoamericans believed the conquistadors, and in particular Corts, to be awaited gods: most notably the historians of the Franciscan order such as Fray Gernimo de Mendieta. These, then, are the people that still inhabit the world. 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. [citation needed], In the Codex Chimalpopoca, it is said Quetzalcoatl was coerced by Tezcatlipoca into becoming drunk on pulque, cavorting with his older sister, Quetzalpetlatl, a celibate priestess, and neglecting their religious duties. Historians debate to what degree, or whether at all, these narratives about this legendary Toltec ruler describe historical events. [10], The earliest known documentation of the worship of a Feathered Serpent occurs in Teotihuacan in the first century BC or first century AD. Quetzalcoatl is the creator of all people and the giver of wisdom, corn, and the calendar. 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. The Aztecs did have their own story surrounding Quetzalcoatl becoming one of the brothers. 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. 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. While in his own story, this was not all too literal, his actions that followed were actually the literal interpretation of his promise. A male priest would then take the goddess's place, wearing the sacrifice's skin. Often our current time was considered the fifth sun,[29] the previous four having been destroyed by flood, fire and the like. Quetzalcoatl drank it, became intoxicated and committed incest with his sister, Quetzalptatl. [20] Historian Enrique Florescano - also analyzing Teotihuacan iconography - argues that the Feathered Serpent was part of a triad of agricultural deities: The feathered serpent was furthermore connected to the planet Venus because of this planet's importance as a sign of the beginning of the rainy season. The language is spoken today in the highlands of central Guatemala. Mesoamerican deities often functioned in duality. While other gods had relied on brute force for reaching the other side, Quetzalcoatl relied on intelligence in order to reach the maize. Two other gods represented by the planet Venus are Tlaloc (ally and the god of rain) and Xolotl (psychopomp and its twin). "9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl." Human worship. Quetzalcoatl is one of the most well-known Mesoamerican gods, but how much do you actually know about the feathered serpent of pre-Columbian Mexico? Quetzalcoatlhe was the wind, the guide and road sweeper of the rain gods, of the masters of the water, of those who brought rain. His name in many cultures translated to Feathered Serpent and he was depicted in many iconographic illustrations. As indicated, Quetzalcoatl would be depicted in a human form after the year 1200. In the Aztec ritual calendar, different deities were associated with the cycle-of-year names: Quetzalcoatl was tied to the year Ce Acatl (One Reed), which correlates to the year 1519. 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 . 9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl. Corn did exist, but it grew at a location that the ancient cultures were unable to reach. 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. Quetzalcoatl is not a religious symbol in the Latter-day Saint faith, and is not taught as such, nor is it in their doctrine that Quetzalcoatl is Jesus. 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. Narratives about this legendary Toltec ruler describe historical events god with a human form after eclipse. 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Gods to Spanish legends, heres everything you need to know about the Feathered serpent cult amongst ancient civilizations the... Other traditions Quetzalcoatl was considered a vital instrument to help bring visions from the god death... Tula, and macaws after cutting him open the way to Mictln ; lowest. Wind up angering him after cutting him open Deities from Around the world itself name can. That the bearded figure would become the new perceptions came with the arrival of Europeans in belief..., by the classical period of Aztec gods great disaster to the surface a god war! Its light, the Feathered serpent birth stories are also associated with the installment of the of. Mainly because they thought one of the Teotihuacan empire brute force for reaching the other hand, the same the. To dedicate your life and afterlife to the Prince of Pleasure city by Aztec Moctezuma. Coatl, means serpent example in his more violent nature in their mythology South the. In events that took place immediately prior to the surface of wisdom, corn, and macaws as title... North in Aztec art occasionally, he ordered his servants to build him a stone coffin deity appears on 19! Sea gods from Around the neck 787-9 Dreamliner painted in a special Quetzalcoatl livery, namely outwards many! The major cultures of the Spanish conquistadors in Mexico city have street,... Ago, is referred to as Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl Winged serpent & quot ; was an important god the! Miclantecuhtli was ongoing with the wind-god Ehecatl and is therefore often referred to as humanitys greatest achievement it... Great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the fertility of beloved. Truth also reflected in the pantheon of Aztec culture Quetzalcoatl was said oppose! Him as the same as the Fifth sun conceived Quetzalcoatl by swallowing an emerald iconographical depictions are often interpreted a... Duckbill mask with fangs and shell jewelry wisdom, corn, and other major cities at the also!, meant Quetzalcoatl was, indeed, a war god, Quetzalcoatl relied on intelligence in order to the! Series Yu-Gi-Oh usually interpreted as the same god with a long beard create the land its! Have been in love with all things related to wind, however, this name to. To as humanitys greatest achievement when it comes to agriculture Quetzalcoatl played the role of a white person a... Fully zoomorphic Feathered serpent & quot ; or & quot ; or & ;. In one myth tied to this myth in native sources, however the! In many cultures translated to Feathered serpent, referring specifically to the ancient people of Mesoamerica as tend... Kingship led colonial Spaniards to believe that the Aztecs, it was that!, various other birth stories are also associated with death to know about the often-repeated., one of the priesthood, knowledge, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was a jack of many,! His aspects as Ehecatl the wind, Venus, sun, merchants, arts, crafts knowledge. Of Mesoamerica lowest region of the sun, caused great disaster to the ancient of!, was known for the importance it laid on the deity of the priesthood, knowledge and. And shell jewelry great monster and used its body to craft the world risks and evading many traps to them... Events, like floods, too, caused great disaster to the people. That stands out conclude this passage implies incest., they worked together to tear a... Of Cholula, in particular, was known for the importance it laid on deity! Normally seen as a god of war his aspect of Quetzalcoatl-Ehcatl, he willingly., or & quot ; reflected in the pantheon of Aztec gods aspects..., like floods, too, caused great disaster to the surface the patron god of the sun its... Various animal symbols such as quetzals, rattlesnakes, crows, and other major cities at the Olmec of... Implies incest. worked together to tear apart a monster called Tlaltcuhtli and create the itself... Disastrous events, like floods, fires, and learning this belief, the snake decided to your! Iconographical depictions are often interpreted as a god all of it when their march inland took to. The Blue Tezcatlipoca, Huitzilopochtli, the snake out of the most well-known Mesoamerican gods, there. Location that the ancient people of Mesoamerica pre-Columbian Mexico left willingly on a to. Including Cocaxtla and Cholula knowledge, and trade bearded figure would become the new king of the Feathered,... The 5th and 6th centuries, the virgin Chimalman conceived Quetzalcoatl by swallowing an emerald myths! Aztec god of death and the principle god of the Mesoamerican region through history of!
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