The new perceptions came with the installment of the Toltec and Aztec empire and how they braided their more violent nature in their mythology. Ultimately, Quetzalcoatl was forced into exile. He is also a god of learning, reading, and books. [41] However, in 1892 one president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, John Taylor, wrote:[42]. In this period the deity is known to have been named Quetzalchutl by his Nahua followers. 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. 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. Quetzalcoatl, or Feathered Serpent, was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. In the post-classic Nahua civilization of central Mexico (Aztec), the worship of Quetzalcoatl was ubiquitous. Later Spanish sources of history claimed that Moctezuma II thought Cortes to be a manifestation of Quetzalcoatl. 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. Occasionally, he is accompanied by his namesake quetzal bird. Legend has it that it made them powerful and strong, enabling them to build cities, palaces, temples, and some of the first pyramids in America. 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. There is a beautiful platform temple to Quetzalcoatl at Xochicalco, and Cholula eventually became known as the home of Quetzalcoatl, attracting pilgrims from all over ancient Mexico. 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? Quetzalcoatl is the name of a central Mexican deity, closely related to the morning star, Venus. Rather, one was named Quetzalcoatl Totec Tlamacazqui, and the other one Quetzalcoatl Tlaloc Tlamacazqui. Although the citys main temple was not dedicated to him, the priests of the city took his name and his iconography was prevalent. Ququmatz Also written as Gukumatz, this name belonged to the Kiche Maya. 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. [9] In Mazatec legends the astrologer deity Tlahuizcalpanteuctli, who is also represented by Venus, bears a close relationship with Quetzalcoatl. They also believed that the Aztec gods reflected aspects of their own religion. Followers of the war god rebelled, however, forcing Topiltzin and his fol-lowers into exile on the Yucatn peninsula. After months of rain, the snake was forced to come out of the cave. In yet another version, Quetzalcoatl is said to be one of the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl. Montezuma king of the aztecs during the era had even confirmed that Cortes was Quetzalcoatl or a reincarnation of their deity. One day, Quetzalcoatls twin brother would coerce him into drinking pulque, a classic Mexican alcoholic beverage still served to this day. Mason-Dixon Line 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. Mayans had deities with feathered serpent as their names. One of the most often-repeated stories involving Quetzalcoatl was one that spread after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in Mexico. He wouldnt become the new Aztec ruler, however. (Restall 2001 p. 114)[full citation needed]. Finally, the north is represented by the god who is only known as Tezcatlipoca or the Black Tezcatlipoca. 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. Spanish writers of the 16th century claimed that Hernn Corts was hailed as the reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl when he arrived in Mexico in 1519. The worship of Miclantecuhtli was ongoing with the arrival of Europeans in the Americas. While the other snakes told him he would never be able to do so, the rain god Tlaloc had other plans. (2020, August 28). 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. Over the South presides the Blue Tezcatlipoca, Huitzilopochtli, the god of war. Quetzalcoatl has been worshiped by all the major Mesoamerican cultures including the Mayans and the Aztecs. [5] It was one of several important gods in the Aztec pantheon, along with the gods Tlaloc, Tezcatlipoca and Huitzilopochtli. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in colonial traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. The Toltec people, who the Aztecs considered to be their ancestors, used Quetzalcoatl as a title for military and political rulers. In some stories he created mankind, and in others he worked with his brother to form the earth itself. Drunkenness was forbidden, so Tezcatlipoca disguised himself as a medicine man and offered Quetzalcoatl alcohol disguised as a medicinal potion. related to the belief in a sky-, Venus-, creator-, war- and fertility-related serpent deity. The worlds largest pyramid, Tlachihualtepetl, was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl and was built up at the site over a period of a thousand years. [12] In the Postclassic period (9001519AD), the worship of the feathered-serpent deity centered in the primary Mexican religious center of Cholula. At Cholula, however, the gods cult is most evident. Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca may have been worshiped as early as 10,000 BC. The invaders looked an awful lot like these late depictions. The earliest Aztec and classic Maya serpent iconography can be found in a six-tiered pyramid specifically dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. Quetzalcoatlhe was the wind, the guide and road sweeper of the rain gods, of the masters of the water, of those who brought rain. According to another mythological account, he was conceived by the virgin Chimalman after she swallowed an emerald. iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order Quetzalcoatl is a form of one of Mesoamericas most wide-spread images. According to one version, Quetzalcoatl was born to a virgin called Chimalman to whom god Onteol appeared in a dream. 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. Other than Teotihuacn, large worship places can be found in Xochicalco and Cacaxtla. 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. Because the feathered serpent was such a widespread and long-lasting archetype, he was known by many names throughout Mexico and Central America. The name Quetzalcoatl can directly be linked to the Quetzal bird, a rare bird species found in Mesoamerica. This, too, can be seen in the birth of Quetzalcoatl. It is believed that the Feathered Serpent was responsible for all of it. In the 16th century, Spaniards conquered the Aztec Empire. [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 Aztecs believed that they lived in the fifth age of creation and that Quetzalcoatl had gone to the Underworld to retrieve the bones of previous generations to create the modern race of man. Minster, Christopher. 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. The worship of this deity has been traced back to as early as the first century BC. While at first a fully zoomorphic feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl would later be represented in his human form. Based on this narrative, Quetzalcoatl is often cited as the Creator in the Aztec mythology. Ruler of the, Nicholson 2001, Carrasco 1982, Gillespie 1989, Florescano 2002, Lafaye 1987, Townsend 2003, Martnez 1980, Phelan 1970. He also had anthropomorphic forms, for example in his aspects as Ehecatl the wind god. Chichen Itza is famous for its Temple of Kukulcn, which was their name for Quetzalcoatl. So it should be clear that Quetzalcoatl was, indeed, a great mythical figure. Like most of their gods, the Aztecs shared him with both allies and foes throughout Mexico and Central America. His body is usually black, a color that represents the north in Aztec art. Alternatively, he left willingly on a raft of snakes, promising to return. 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. The city was known as the center of Quetzalcoatls worship. 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. [45][46] The deity has been featured as a character in the manga and anime series Yu-Gi-Oh! 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. While this link between Hernn Corts and Quetzalcoatl remains popular, it is likely based more in Spanish beliefs and misunderstanding than the religion of the Aztecs. The temple of Quetzalcatl at Tenochtitln, the Aztec capital, was a round building, a shape that fitted the god's personality as Ehcatl. However, independent historical sources do not substantiate this claim and later historians have disputed it as well. However, this legend likely has a foundation in events that took place immediately prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. He took his companion Xolotl, a dog-headed god, with him. 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. While other gods had relied on brute force for reaching the other side, Quetzalcoatl relied on intelligence in order to reach the maize. 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. 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. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. The story that has been passed down says that after throwing himself into fire Quetzalcoatl was destined to return one day. 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 . Because there were so many languages and ethnic groups in Mesoamerica, their gods went by many names. This is what you have to look forward to- Initially, you will notice that you can find pleasure in new and sometimes bizarre places. Cholula remained the most important center of worship of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec/Nahua version of the feathered-serpent deity, in the post-classic period. After the second sun, Tezcatlipoca turned all of the people into monkeys, which displeased Quetzalcoatl, who caused the monkeys to be blown away by a hurricane. 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. He transformed himself into a small black ant, taking a red ant with him for a little company during his journey. ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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