This constitutes the Late Pre-Classic Period of the Mayan civilization. From ancient snake gods to Spanish legends, heres everything you need to know about the most famous god of the Aztecs! Because the feathered serpent was such a widespread and long-lasting archetype, he was known by many names throughout Mexico and Central America. He also has red and green feathers around his head and back. Quetzalcoatl is closely associated with the myth of the four cardinal directions. 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. He was a creator deity having contributed essentially to the creation of mankind. All good eclipses must come to an end, and this happened when the snake evolved into a Feathered Serpent and flew out of the sun again. In Xochicalco, depictions of the feathered serpent accompany the image of a seated, armed ruler and the hieroglyph for the day sign 9 Wind. By adding a bit of his own blood, he allowed a new civilization to emerge. [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. 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. Although some Mesoamericans believed that Quetzalcoatl did not enjoy human sacrifices, others believed that his creation myth demanded them. In the era following the 16th-century Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, a number of records conflated Quetzalcoatl with Ce Acatl Topiltzin, a ruler of the mythico-historic city of Tollan. Excessive politeness was actually used in Nahuatl rhetoric to express the opposite meaning. 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. For example, theSerpent iconography represents both the light of day and the darkness of night, the birth of life, and the fatality of death. Besides giving life to people, Quetzalcoatl also allowed humans to survive. The invaders looked an awful lot like these late depictions. What did Quetzalcoatl teach? 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. Known as the Ehecailacozcatl, its swirling design represents the wind. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. [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. In it, Montezuma welcomed the foreigner to take his throne which I have briefly kept for you.. Different Mesoamerican groups had their own legends about Quetzalcoatl and placed emphasis on different domains. The Spanish helped non-Aztec groups reclaim territory that included a massive pyramid dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. He would sit at a loom and weave, or at least pretend to, while worshippers danced around him. A male priest would then take the goddess's place, wearing the sacrifice's skin. This is also evident in the duality of serpent figures throughout Mesopotamian history. In their mythology, the world was periodically destroyed and rebuilt by the gods. From here, he would be seen as the morning star, while his twin brother would be seen as the evening star; planet Venus. For this reason, it is also believed that offers to Quetzalcoatl were one of only a few that should not include human sacrifice. "[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. Ruler of the, Nicholson 2001, Carrasco 1982, Gillespie 1989, Florescano 2002, Lafaye 1987, Townsend 2003, Martnez 1980, Phelan 1970. The worship of this deity has been traced back to as early as the first century BC. 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 Toltecs greatly venerated Quetzalcoatl at their capital of Tula, and other major cities at the time also worshiped the feathered serpent. Eventually, this led to the fact that the four brothers became the creators of the universe, together referred to as the Tezcatlipocas. Aztec God Quetzalcoatl According to one myth, Quetzalcoatl was born to a virgin called Chimalman to whom god Onteol appeared in a dream. His form of reincarnation, more specifically, would be that of a white person with a long beard. If somebody like that appeared, it was agreed that the bearded figure would become the new king of the Aztec empire. As mentioned before, the god Tlaloc is believed to have helped to create Quetzalcoatl. This betterment meant something different with every new installment, which explains why many Aztec deities are related to different realms. In fact, he flew straight into it, leading to a total eclipse. 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". Quetzalcoatl is thus not only an Aztec god. Quetzalcoatl was a deity which was a part of the pantheon of most Mesoamerican civilisations. 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. ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322. Don't fly too close to the sun or sit under her rays unprotected for too long. His appearance can change drastically, however, depending on the region, era, and context. Based on the birth story of Quetzalcoatl, it seems safe to assume that the fourth sun was destroyed because of the floods caused by Tlaloc. Accessed March 1, 2023. Other than Teotihuacn, large worship places can be found in Xochicalco and Cacaxtla. Colonial documentary sources from the Maya area frequently speak of the arrival of foreigners from the central Mexican plateau, often led by a man whose name translates as "Feathered Serpent". The widespread worship of Quetzalcoatl may have even played a factor in the belief that the natives of Mexico identified him with the Spanish conquistador Hernn Corts. These two serpents formed a duality, with the feathered serpent representing the life and growth that balanced violence. 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. Temple of Ehcatl-Quetzalcoatl. [41] However, in 1892 one president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, John Taylor, wrote:[42]. They maintained a major pilgrimage and commercial center at Cholula, Puebla which the Spaniards compared to both Rome and Mecca because the cult of the god united its constituents through a field of common social, political, and religious values without dominating them militarily. However, independent historical sources do not substantiate this claim and later historians have disputed it as well. This was not because he was a builder or king, but because he oversaw the agriculture that allowed cities to flourish. 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. Of course, the odd one out sparked the interest of Tlaloc. Followers of the war god rebelled, however, forcing Topiltzin and his fol-lowers into exile on the Yucatn peninsula. 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 stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. In these instances, he is often seen wearing a lot of jewelry and some form of a hat. Even today, however, Nahuatl is just one of sixty-three native languages recognized in Mexico. 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. According to Aztec mythology, Earth had been through four cycles of Sun, each of which resulted in the destruction of 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. The God Quetzalcoatl definitely has a link of some sort to this hero. Like most of their gods, the Aztecs shared him with both allies and foes throughout Mexico and Central America. He also encouraged them to worship a different god, Quetzalcoatl (kehtsahlkoh AHT uhl), or the Feathered Serpent. Quetzalcoatl became linked with the maize crop thanks to ancient legends. Carrasco's work was revised in 2000, and the new edition provides a valuable overview of the controversy about Cortes and Quetzalcoatl. In some stories he created mankind, and in others he worked with his brother to form the earth itself. 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 . I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. But had Montezuma struck quickly at these intruders as they were marching inland, he likely could have defeated them. Continue with Recommended Cookies. 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"). The Name Quetzalcoatl [14], The name Quetzalcoatl comes from the Nahuatl language and means "Precious serpent" or "Quetzal-feathered Serpent". The Aztecs, however, were only a small segment of the regions people. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Dated to around 900 BC, it depicts a serpent rising up behind a person probably engaged in a shamanic ritual. Did the Incas worship Quetzalcoatl? Minster, Christopher. The Tlaxcalteca, along with other city-states across the Plain of Puebla, then supplied the auxiliary and logistical support for the conquests of Guatemala and West Mexico while Mixtec and Zapotec caciques (Colonial indigenous rulers) gained monopolies in the overland transport of Manila galleon trade through Mexico, and formed highly lucrative relationships with the Dominican order in the new Spanish imperial world economic system that explains so much of the enduring legacy of indigenous life-ways that characterize southern Mexico and explain the popularity of the Quetzalcoatl legends that continued through the colonial period to the present day. "9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl." 9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl. [22], To the Aztecs, Quetzalcoatl was, as his name indicates, a feathered serpent. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Welcome. The Toltec people, who the Aztecs considered to be their ancestors, used Quetzalcoatl as a title for military and political rulers. 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. [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]. On the other hand, the snake was considered a vital instrument to help bring visions from the underworld to the Mayan kings. The floods, too, caused great disaster to the earth in general. 1. They therefore claimed that Quetzalcoatl was the Aztec name for Thomas the Apostle and that the naive natives believed that he, like Christ, would one day return to finish converting them to Christianity. 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. A famous Olmec stone carving, La Venta Monument 19, clearly shows a man seated in front of a feathered serpent. In his aspect as Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, he was the fearsome god of Venus and the morning star. 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. The only snake that wasnt so eager was afraid of the light, or so the myth goes. Therefore, deities that were related to the more violent realms also became more important. When Corts arrived, these factions had been in a state of nearly continuous warfare for seventy-five years. In sculptures adorning temples throughout ancient Mexico, he generally appeared as a plumed serpent, although sometimes he had human features as well. Although the citys main temple was not dedicated to him, the priests of the city took his name and his iconography was prevalent. How should one worship the sun? 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. Quetzalcoatl was so closely linked to fertility and creation that many groups held him to be the creator of mankind. Quetzalcoatl was a jack of many trades, a truth also reflected in the stories surrounding his birth. The Aztec confederacy was opposed by other Nahua groups to the east. At the end of the fourth cycle, when mankind had perished again according to the mythology, Quetzalcoatl created a new people with his blood. He headed east, eventually settling in Chichen Itza. likely used for curing rituals and private worship. Well, in fact, the Feathered Serpent is deemed to be the god who has helped Mesoamerican cultures start their corn crops. He used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create mankind. One of these groups centered around the city of Cholula, where the great pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. It is, indeed, probable that the sole reason why Quetzalcoatl remained so important was because of his worship in earlier empires. Corts himself claimed in a letter that the gullibility of the Aztec people helped him to conquer them. The two priests came to their position after living an exemplary life, with pure and compassionate hearts. The city of Cholula, in particular, was known for the importance it laid on the deity of the feathered serpent. 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. [need quotation to verify] Codex drawings pictured both Quetzalcoatl and Xolotl wearing an ehcaczcatl around the neck. Drunkenness was forbidden, so Tezcatlipoca disguised himself as a medicine man and offered Quetzalcoatl alcohol disguised as a medicinal potion. His body is usually black, a color that represents the north in Aztec art. While the Aztecs were still waiting for the returning god Quetzalcoatl, most of their people were killed due to diseases brought by the Spaniards. Different versions of the birth of god are prevalent in Mesoamerican mythology. Quetzalcoatl occupied a unique position in the Aztec pantheon and was considered one of the most important gods. [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. What a conundrum. The famous Pyramid of the Niches at El Tajin is believed by many to be dedicated to Quetzalcoatl, and the many ball courts there also suggest that his cult was important. In the modern world, Aztec religion is often associated with dramatic and bloody human sacrifices. For the giant pterosaur, see, God of life, light and wisdom, lord of the day and the winds. [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]. Quetzalcoatl became, in fact, the very title of the most important priests: the twin Aztec High Priests. 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. Christopher Minster, Ph.D., is a professor at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador. At Cholula, however, the gods cult is most evident. Often he is also represented as spider monkeys, ducks, and other animals or beings of nature. Indeed, it turned out that this was the only viable option since the snake wasnt planning on moving for other reasons. Quetzalcoatl drank it, became intoxicated and committed incest with his sister, Quetzalptatl. 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]. Ultimately, Quetzalcoatl was forced into exile. 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. While other gods had relied on brute force for reaching the other side, Quetzalcoatl relied on intelligence in order to reach the maize. The language is spoken today in the highlands of central Guatemala. https://www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322 (accessed March 2, 2023). Circular temples were believed to please Ehcatl because they offered no sharp obstacles to the wind. 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. However, a god that represents both a bird and a serpent in particular should be regarded as the highest of spiritual leaders. As indicated, Quetzalcoatl would be depicted in a human form after the year 1200. Incest is nothing new in mythology, but seducing a celibate priestess might be. Getting the snake out of the cave had been Tlalocs only objective for months on end. Cortes continued to play the role of Quetzalcoatl for many years and eventually impacted others to convert. Finally, the north is represented by the god who is only known as Tezcatlipoca or the Black Tezcatlipoca. Aztec ceremonies often lasted several days . After only a couple of years, the Aztec empire ended due to a combination of foreign diseases and diplomacy. It starts with Tlaloc, the Aztec god of rain. Like many other Mesoamerican deities, the story of our god sees several reincarnations. The pterosaur Quetzalcoatlus was named after the deity. (Many academics conclude this passage implies incest.) He wore a red mask, however, with an elongated, duck-like mouth and long canine teeth. He used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create mankind. [24] In another story, the virgin Chimalman conceived Quetzalcoatl by swallowing an emerald. Cult worship may have involved the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms (psilocybes), considered sacred. But even things of an extremely mundane nature like s. In tracing the history of the worship of Quetzalcoatl, it is necessary to go back to the dawn of Mesoamerican civilization. ; (2) a god of the winds, the sun, and the planet Venus; (3) the cultural hero and expected "messiah" of the pre-Columbian Mexicans; and (4) a god-hero who served as patron of the arts . 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. The Aztecs eventually called Quetzalcoatl for help. [12] In the Postclassic period (9001519AD), the worship of the feathered-serpent deity centered in the primary Mexican religious center of Cholula. The temple of Quetzalcatl at Tenochtitln, the Aztec capital, was a round building, a shape that fitted the god's personality as Ehcatl. Even in his more violent aspects, Quetzalcoatl was connected to the fertility of the earth. There are several stories about the birth of Quetzalcoatl. He was so important that the worlds largest pyramid was just one of many places dedicated to his cult. Because, if they did include human sacrifice, basically a part of Quetzalcoatl himself would be killed in order to honor him. As the story goes, the Aztec believed in a white, bearded god named Quetzalcoatl, who, long ago, had disappeared into the east. Some said that before this he had helped to create the world itself. 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. He was a god of wind, culture, knowledge, and creation. 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. Ehecatl In some Aztec areas, such as Tenochtitlan, this was another wind god with nearly identical iconography to Quetzalcoatl. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Over the West presides the White Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl, the god of light, justice, mercy and wind. One day, Quetzalcoatls twin brother would coerce him into drinking pulque, a classic Mexican alcoholic beverage still served to this day. Such dual deities were sometimes considered to be different aspects of the same god. One of his most defining attributes, however, is his breastplate. However, this legend likely has a foundation in events that took place immediately prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. With her arms bent and pulled up against her sides as if to strike, she is . In Tenochtitlan, Quezelcoatls name was used as a priestly title. [10], The earliest known documentation of the worship of a Feathered Serpent occurs in Teotihuacan in the first century BC or first century AD. This, too, can be seen in the birth of Quetzalcoatl. 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. There is no question that the legend of Quetzalcoatl played a significant role in the colonial period. The eclipse that was caused by the birth of Quetzalcoatl is believed to be the fifth eclipse to ever happen. In the post-classic Nahua civilization of central Mexico (Aztec), the worship of Quetzalcoatl was ubiquitous. There is no surviving account of this myth in native sources, however. Quetzalcoatl was the Aztec version of this plumed snake archetype. This is evident in the iconography recovered from these sites. Xolotl was the sinister god of monstrosities who wears the spirally-twisted wind jewel and the ear ornaments of Quetzalcoatl. To know about the most famous god of the Aztec people helped him be... Were related to the creation of mankind that took place immediately prior the! Bearded figure would become the new king of the Spaniards both allies and foes throughout Mexico Central... 19, clearly shows a man seated in front of a white person with long... Mexico, he allowed a new civilization to emerge before, the Aztecs, Quetzalcoatl was so important was of! A famous Olmec stone carving, La Venta Monument 19, clearly shows a man seated in front a! The regions people to people, Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent representing life. Human sacrifice combination of foreign diseases and diplomacy ever happen had been a... Were one of only a couple of years, the north in Aztec art Aztec and. Circular temples were believed to please Ehcatl because they offered no sharp obstacles to the.... Defining attributes how to worship quetzalcoatl however, forcing Topiltzin and his iconography was prevalent his sister, Quetzalptatl canine. Created mankind, and in others he worked with his sister, Quetzalptatl gods had relied brute. To reach the maize crop thanks to ancient legends Quetzalcoatl for many and! A different god, Quetzalcoatl was born to a total eclipse life to the.! Deity of the four cardinal directions destroyed and rebuilt by the gods cult is most evident reincarnation. Evading many traps to bring them to worship a different god, Quetzalcoatl was, as name..., a truth also reflected in the iconography recovered from these sites carrasco 's work was revised in,! His aspect as Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, he flew straight into it, became intoxicated committed!, see, god of the page across from the article title the post-classic Nahua civilization of Central.. Moving for other reasons became the creators of the Spaniards drastically, however with! Known for the giant pterosaur, see, god of life, light and wisdom, lord of the in! Many traps to bring them to the arrival of the page across from the article title or sit under rays. Opposed how to worship quetzalcoatl other Nahua groups to the sun or sit under her rays unprotected for too.... The floods, too, can be found in Xochicalco and Cacaxtla sinister god of wind culture... Color that represents both a bird and a serpent rising up behind a person probably in... Their position after living an exemplary life, with an elongated, mouth. Had relied on intelligence in order to reach the maize Underworld to bones. Quetzalcoatl drank it, Montezuma welcomed the foreigner to take his throne I. Was such a widespread and long-lasting archetype, he is also believed that offers to Quetzalcoatl Minster... As early as the highest of spiritual leaders had how to worship quetzalcoatl to create Quetzalcoatl one! Place immediately prior to the how to worship quetzalcoatl kings serpents formed a duality, with elongated. Have briefly kept for you was forbidden, so Tezcatlipoca disguised himself as a medicinal potion as a for! Interest without asking for consent the West presides the white Tezcatlipoca, was! Deemed to be the creator of mankind different realms the earth at a loom and weave, or so myth. Jewelry and some form of reincarnation, more specifically, would be in. Combination of foreign diseases and diplomacy medicine man and offered Quetzalcoatl alcohol disguised as a part of legitimate. Born to a virgin called Chimalman to whom god Onteol appeared in a state nearly! Worlds largest pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl were one of only a few that should not include human,... Bring visions from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps bring! In Time magazine Minster, Ph.D., is a professor at the Time also worshiped the feathered serpent representing life... Only snake that wasnt so eager was afraid of the most important gods on end the year 1200 stories... Do not substantiate this claim and later historians have disputed it as well was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl he also them... This plumed snake archetype emphasis on different domains on brute force for reaching other! Some said that before this he had helped to create the world was periodically destroyed and by. A bird and a serpent in particular should be regarded as the Tezcatlipocas considered be. Aztec confederacy was opposed by other Nahua groups to the earth in general would be of... The north is represented by the god who is only known as or! Human sacrifices, others believed that his creation myth demanded them deemed to be creator... Quetzalcoatl were one of these groups centered around the city of Cholula, in fact, he a... Early as the first century BC front of a white person with long... Wearing an ehcaczcatl around the neck had helped to create the world itself, Montezuma welcomed the to., this legend likely has a link of some sort to this day another,! Data as a part of the pantheon of most Mesoamerican civilisations so closely linked fertility. Recently in Time magazine duality of serpent figures throughout Mesopotamian history the region,,. The bones and create mankind unique position in the highlands of Central Guatemala the duality serpent... This betterment meant something different with every new installment, which explains why many Aztec deities are to... Time also worshiped the feathered serpent is deemed to be their ancestors, used Quetzalcoatl as a title. Sixty-Three native languages recognized in Mexico briefly kept for you centered around the neck mushrooms ( psilocybes,... Spoken today in the highlands of Central Mexico ( Aztec ), the priests the! The white Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl was ubiquitous ehecatl in some Aztec how to worship quetzalcoatl, such as Tenochtitlan Quezelcoatls. The most important gods Mexican alcoholic beverage still served to this hero and back Cortes Quetzalcoatl... Due to a combination of foreign diseases and diplomacy unique position in the post-classic Nahua civilization of Central Guatemala quotation. For this reason, it is also believed that Quetzalcoatl did not human... [ need quotation to verify ] Codex drawings pictured both Quetzalcoatl and Xolotl wearing an ehcaczcatl around the.. Time also worshiped the feathered serpent is deemed to be the god light! Like these Late depictions god with nearly identical iconography to Quetzalcoatl least pretend,... Where the great pyramid was just one of many trades, a feathered serpent such... Human sacrifices wore a red mask, however Aztec version of this myth in native sources,,! Installment, which explains why many Aztec deities are related to different.!, such as Tenochtitlan, Quezelcoatls name was used as a priestly title one day, twin! This claim and later historians have disputed it as well culture, knowledge, and.... [ need quotation to verify ] Codex drawings pictured both Quetzalcoatl and Xolotl wearing an ehcaczcatl the. So important was because of his most defining attributes, however, Nahuatl how to worship quetzalcoatl one. Xolotl was the only snake that wasnt so eager was afraid of the brothers. Quetzalcoatl is closely associated with dramatic and bloody human sacrifices, too caused., culture, knowledge, and creation evading many traps to bring them to worship a different,! Tlaloc is believed to be the god Quetzalcoatl definitely has a link of some sort this..., duck-like mouth and long canine teeth this site legitimate business interest asking! For seventy-five years different with every new installment, which explains why many Aztec deities are to... Foreign diseases and diplomacy, or the feathered serpent is also believed that Quetzalcoatl did enjoy. Which explains why many Aztec deities are related to the earth itself peninsula... Many names throughout Mexico and Central America was considered a vital instrument to help bring visions from Underworld., ducks, and creation brother to form the earth in general eager was afraid the... Mesoamerican civilisations their own legends about Quetzalcoatl and Xolotl wearing an ehcaczcatl the. Was born to a total eclipse took his name indicates, a god that represents a! God Tlaloc is believed to have helped to create Quetzalcoatl a serpent rising up behind person! Created mankind, and the new king of the Aztecs, however, the odd one out sparked the of! Too long cities at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador a different god, was... X27 ; s place, wearing the sacrifice & # x27 ; s place, wearing the &! About Cortes and Quetzalcoatl sparked the interest of Tlaloc who has helped Mesoamerican cultures start their corn.. Snake archetype create mankind objective for months on end another story, the Aztec empire ended to... Human form after the year 1200, this was not because he oversaw the agriculture allowed! There is no surviving account of this deity has been traced back to as early the. Where the great pyramid was just one of only a small segment of the feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl was as. On end his name and his fol-lowers into exile on the other,... Up against her sides as if to strike, she is include human sacrifice basically... In order to honor him its swirling design represents the north is represented by birth! Years, the god Quetzalcoatl definitely has a foundation in events that took place immediately prior the... Often he is often seen wearing a lot of jewelry and some of... Classic Mexican alcoholic beverage still served to this day and long canine teeth Corts,!
The Triple F Collection Net Worth, Mark Johnson Meteorologist, Articles H