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. Some scholarship maintains the view that the Aztec Empire's fall may be attributed in part to the belief in Corts as the returning Quetzalcoatl, notably in works by David Carrasco (1982), H. B. Nicholson (2001 (1957)) and John Pohl (2016). 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. 9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl. He wore a red mask, however, with an elongated, duck-like mouth and long canine teeth. 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. Xolotl Among the Aztecs, this was Quetzalcoatls twin. 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. ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322. The title of the twin Aztec high priests wasnt just Quetzalcoatl. The legend of Quetzalcoatl is spoofed in the Adult Swim CGI series Xavier: Renegade Angel. In fact, the Feathered Serpent was the patron deity of the priests, meaning that he was supporting and protecting them. 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. Temple of Ehcatl-Quetzalcoatl. He used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create mankind. Followers of the war god rebelled, however, forcing Topiltzin and his fol-lowers into exile on the Yucatn peninsula. Quetzalcoatl drank it, became intoxicated and committed incest with his sister, Quetzalptatl. The God Quetzalcoatl definitely has a link of some sort to this hero. Quetzalcoatl was the Aztec version of this plumed snake archetype. The Nahuatl nouns compounded into the proper name "Quetzalcoatl" are: (in English, Spanish, and Nahuatl languages), Proposed Book of Mormon geographical setting, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Fate/Grand Order - Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia, The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, "Evidence of Mushroom Worship in Mesoamerica", "New Taxonomical and Ethnomycological Observations on, "All You Need To Know About The Ancient Aztec Gods and Goddesses", "Readings in Classical Nahuatl: The Death of Quetzalcoatl", "Gift of the Gods: Chocolate in the Aztec Empire", "The Complete New York City Horror Movie Marathon! Xolotl was the sinister god of monstrosities who wears the spirally-twisted wind jewel and the ear ornaments of Quetzalcoatl. A Walking Tour of the Maya Capital of Chichn Itz, The Chac Mool Sculptures of Ancient Mexico, Influence of the Olmec Civilization on Mesoamerica. Or, more appropriately, Abya Yala.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. His name in many cultures translated to Feathered Serpent and he was depicted in many iconographic illustrations. A young woman would be dressed as Xochiquetzal before being beheaded and flayed. [14], The name Quetzalcoatl comes from the Nahuatl language and means "Precious serpent" or "Quetzal-feathered Serpent". If your web page requires an HTML link, please insert this code: . Quetzalcoatl was so closely linked to fertility and creation that many groups held him to be the creator of mankind. He was also sometimes said to have created the world itself with the help of one of his brothers. The meaning of his name is "Winged Serpent" or "Feathered Serpent". Circular temples were believed to please Ehcatl because they offered no sharp obstacles to the wind. Quetzelcoatl also appeared on (Season 3) of the Animal Planet mockumentary Lost Tapes in an episode entitled "Q the Serpent God". One of the jewels he is depicted with is the wind jewel, affirming his status as a wind god. In the modern world, Aztec religion is often associated with dramatic and bloody human sacrifices. In these instances, he is often seen wearing a lot of jewelry and some form of a hat. [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]. (Restall 2001 p. 114)[full citation needed]. The worship of Quetzalcoatl is wide-reaching, has a rich history, and exemplifies the complex world of Aztec mythology. While drunk, Quetzalcoatl seduced his sister, a celibate priestess. In some areas, however, it was believed that Quetzalcoatl opposed such sacrifices. The connection between Quetzalcoatl and the fall of the Aztec Empire may also have its roots in political events that predated the arrival of Corts and his army. These were part of the Nahua culture, which included both these states and other independent ethnic groups in central Mexico. It starts with Tlaloc, the Aztec god of rain. Because of this, the latest reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl would come to earth to do exactly that. 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. Plumed serpents continued to be depicted in Central American cultures. Similarly, various other birth stories are also associated with Quetzalcoatl. Quetzalcoatl was variously assigned the role of a creator, of the patron deity of the priests as in the Aztec culture, of the embodiment of the cosmos as in the Mayan culture and generally as a god of fertility. Quetzalcoatl had aspects in which he functioned as other gods. He drove the winds that brought rain and allowed plants to grow. Quetzalcoatl was considered important in the pantheon of Aztec gods. Quetzalcoatl is the most recognizable name among the Aztec gods. The date 9 Wind is known to be associated with fertility, Venus and war among the Maya and frequently occurs in relation to Quetzalcoatl in other Mesoamerican cultures. As the morning star, he was known by the title Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, meaning "lord of the star of the dawn". Indeed, the same as the one from the Great Pyramid. At Cholula, however, the gods cult is most evident. The temple can be found at Teotihuacan and was erected in the third century. He was a creator deity having contributed essentially to the creation of mankind. 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. Quetzalcoatl is the creator of all people and the giver of wisdom, corn, and the calendar. What are the facts associated with this mysterious god? Remember, he has already been deemed a god. In sculptures adorning temples throughout ancient Mexico, he generally appeared as a plumed serpent, although sometimes he had human features as well. Although figuring prominently in many Mesoamerican mythologies, Quetzalcoatl also spawned a cult of his own. Quetzalcoatl occupied a unique position in the Aztec pantheon and was considered one of the most important gods. Mictlanteuctli and Mictlancihuatl, the two gods that ruled that realm, gave him a puzzle he was expected to complete before he could take the bones. 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. This is evident in the iconography recovered from these sites. While other gods had relied on brute force for reaching the other side, Quetzalcoatl relied on intelligence in order to reach the maize. Represented as the plumed serpent, Quetzalcoatl was also seen as manifest in the wind, one of the most powerful forces of nature; a text in the Nahuatl language captures this relationship: Quetzalcoatl; yn ehecatl ynteiacancauh yntlachpancauh in tlaloque, yn aoaque, yn qujqujiauhti. This, too, can be seen in the birth of Quetzalcoatl. Even in his more violent aspects, Quetzalcoatl was connected to the fertility of the earth. The Name Quetzalcoatl Members of this confederacy from Tlaxcala, Puebla, and Oaxaca provided the Spaniards with the army that first reclaimed the city of Cholula from its pro-Aztec ruling faction, and ultimately defeated the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan (Mexico City). The next morning, Quetzalcoatl, feeling shame and regret, had his servants build him a stone chest, adorn him in turquoise, and then, laying in the chest, set himself on fire. Don't fly too close to the sun or sit under her rays unprotected for too long. Quetzalcoatl, or "Feathered Serpent," was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. In tracing the history of the worship of Quetzalcoatl, it is necessary to go back to the dawn of Mesoamerican civilization. Standing over ten feet tall, the statue towers over onlookers as she leans toward them. He was quite a bit bigger than he was before. Of these, Quetzalcoatl was the Sun in the second cycle. The eclipse that was caused by the birth of Quetzalcoatl is believed to be the fifth eclipse to ever happen. Human worship. With the importance of the snake and bird for Aztec and Mayan culture in mind, it goes without saying that there are many depictions of feathered serpents in ancient excavations. [13] Furthermore, early Spanish sources written by clerics tend to identify the god-ruler Quetzalcoatl of these narratives with either Hernn Corts or Thomas the Apostleidentifications which have also become sources of a diversity of opinions about the nature of Quetzalcoatl. Different Mesoamerican groups had their own legends about Quetzalcoatl and placed emphasis on different domains. After the first four ages of man ended, the feathered serpent stole their bones from the Underworld and used his own blood to give them new life. Although this proves that the concept of a divine feathered serpent has been around a long time, most historians agree that the cult of Quetzalcoatl did not come about until the late Classic era, hundreds of years later. [12] In the Postclassic period (9001519AD), the worship of the feathered-serpent deity centered in the primary Mexican religious center of Cholula. Well, look no further, because Quetzalcoatl is your guy. As the story goes, the Aztec believed in a white, bearded god named Quetzalcoatl, who, long ago, had disappeared into the east. 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. 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. Here, our plumed serpent gathered the bones of all the previous races that walked the earth. He is a former head writer at VIVA Travel Guides. A 2012 exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Dallas Museum of Art, "The Children of the Plumed Serpent: the Legacy of Quetzalcoatl in Ancient Mexico", demonstrated the existence of a powerful confederacy of Eastern Nahuas, Mixtecs and Zapotecs, along with the peoples they dominated throughout southern Mexico between 1200 and 1600 (Pohl, Fields, and Lyall 2012, Harvey 2012, Pohl 2003). That is, according to the Aztecs. It is also suggested that he was a son of Xochiquetzal and Mixcoatl. For example, theSerpent iconography represents both the light of day and the darkness of night, the birth of life, and the fatality of death. In Tenochtitlan, Quezelcoatls name was used as a priestly title. Quetzalcoatl stands out from the Mesoamerican pantheon as being relatively less bloodthirsty than others like Huitzilopochtli or Tezcatlipoca, making him as good a candidate as any for Jesus visiting the New World. Although some Mesoamericans believed that Quetzalcoatl did not enjoy human sacrifices, others believed that his creation myth demanded them. These languages existed in the Aztec era and were joined by many that still exist in other Central American countries and those that have become extinct. The cult even spread down into the Maya lands. In the 16th century, Spaniards conquered the Aztec Empire. Quetzalcoatl is thus not only an Aztec god. What a conundrum. Quetzalcoatl is but one of the Aztec gods and goddesses that has animal-like characteristics. 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. In another legend, still told in Mexico, Quetzalcoatl was feeling ill. His brother Tezcatlipoca, who wanted to be rid of Quetzalcoatl, came up with a clever plan. 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. Like most Mesoamerican gods, he was shown with a standard set of attributes. Venus, which the god was closely associated with, appeared in the sky at the beginning of the rainy season. Latter-day Saint author Brant Gardner, after investigating the link between Quetzalcoatl and Jesus, concluded that the association amounts to nothing more than folklore. In fact, he flew straight into it, leading to a total eclipse. In his form as Ehecatl he is the wind, and is represented by spider monkeys, ducks, and the wind itself. Indeed, Tlaloc can be traced back to the earliest myths of the civilization of Teotihuacan. [37] This speech, which has been widely referred to, has been a factor in the widespread belief that Moctezuma was addressing Corts as the returning god Quetzalcoatl. In 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. In some versions of the ancient Mesoamerican histories, Quetzalcoatl was reborn as Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli after being burned on a funeral pyre. Alternatively, he left willingly on a raft of snakes, promising to return. Each of these four sons presides over one of the four cardinal directions. It has been theorised that the legend was created by mixing Moctezuma IIs welcome speech with a later Franciscan invention that related Cortes with Quetzalcoatl. Aztec God Quetzalcoatl According to Aztec mythology, Earth had been through four cycles of Sun, each of which resulted in the destruction of mankind. [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. [24] In another story, the virgin Chimalman conceived Quetzalcoatl by swallowing an emerald. He used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create mankind. 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. Quetzalcoatl is closely associated with the myth of the four cardinal directions. In a version of the myth, Quetzalcoatl was born by a virgin named Chimalman, to whom the god Ometeotl appeared in a dream. Over the West presides the White Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl, the god of light, justice, mercy and wind. The floods, too, caused great disaster to the earth in general. Why is that? The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. 1. This article is about a Mesoamerican deity. Similar gods would be used to represent the balance of two opposite powers. So Quetzalcoatl is named after the thing he looks like, a feathered serpent deity. 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. Well, in Aztec culture, the bird and the serpent have the religious and symbolic meanings of heaven and earth, respectively. The Aztecs, however, were only a small segment of the regions people. He was a god of wind, culture, knowledge, and creation. The Toltecs and Nahuas worshiped the god before he was eventually adopted by the Aztecs. The trip was far from easy, but Quetzalcoatl was able to complete it. By the 3rd century AD this was recognizable as a god, who had a pyramid dedicated to his honor in the city of Teotihuacn. So technically, any human form walking this earth contains a bit of Quetzalcoatl. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. To link to this article in the text of an online publication, please use this URL: https://historycooperative.org/quetzalcoatl/. 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. Auh yn jquac molhuja eheca, mjtoa: teuhtli quaqualaca, ycoioca, tetecujca, tlatlaiooa, tlatlapitza, tlatlatzinj, motlatlaueltia. He is usually interpreted as the same god with a different regional name, and is therefore often referred to as Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl. Cholula remained the most important center of worship of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec/Nahua version of the feathered-serpent deity, in the post-classic period. (2020, August 28). The Aztecs eventually called Quetzalcoatl for help. Quetzalcoatl is a Mesoamerican deity whose name comes from the Nahuatl language and means "feathered serpent". In yet another version, Quetzalcoatl is said to be one of the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl. 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. Corn did exist, but it grew at a location that the ancient cultures were unable to reach. 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. 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. Quetzalcoatl, or Feathered Serpent, was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. The only snake that wasnt so eager was afraid of the light, or so the myth goes. 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. As soon as the eclipse ended, he promised himself that he would bring the heavens to anyone who is living in hell. Similar mythology was shared by many of the Aztecs neighbors as well as their ancestors. [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. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. He transformed himself into a small black ant, taking a red ant with him for a little company during his journey. Quetzalcoatl was also linked with Aztec priesthood and one of the two high priests in the famous Templo Mayor of Tenochtitlan assumed the title of Quetzalcoatl. Different cultures associated him with priesthood and kingship, further complicating his mythology in later retellings. On the other hand, the snake was considered a vital instrument to help bring visions from the underworld to the Mayan kings. Quetzalcoatl's opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile. Hernan Cortes, who led the Spaniards, was first invited into the city by Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II. Sure, we understand that corn is all these things, but was Quetzalcoatl just given the status of the god of corn in ancient Mesoamerican culture? Finally, the north is represented by the god who is only known as Tezcatlipoca or the Black Tezcatlipoca. The west is represented by Quetzalcoatl who is also the White Tezcatlipoca and the god of light, justice, mercy, and wind. In his aspect as Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, he was the fearsome god of Venus and the morning star. His appearance can change drastically, however, depending on the region, era, and context. and they were greatly influential on all subsequent ones. After a slapstick-style chase scene, Xavier winds up as the Sun God and commits "sacricide" (sacrificial suicide), ending the skit. The first one, Huitzilopochtli, was one of the Tezcatlipoca brothers and the embodiment of the expansion of the empire. 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. Feathered serpents appear as early as 900 BC in parts of Mexico. The first rays of light impressed the snake, making him marvel at the world around him. 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. 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. It shows the first signs of a feathered serpent cult amongst ancient civilizations of the region. Quetzalcoatl wasnt all that happy with it, however. The story of how the ordinary Quetzalcoatl became one of the heavenly brothers goes as followed. Quetzalcoatl stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. The earliest known iconographic depiction of the deity appears on Stela 19 at the Olmec site of La Venta. Manage Settings For more details, Wikipedia is a good resource. [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]. Although early images had shown a serpent, by the classical period of Aztec culture Quetzalcoatl was more often shown with a human body. The four suns before Quetzalcoatl had been destroyed by disastrous events, like floods, fires, and volcanic eruptions. 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. As a priestly god, Quetzalcoatl oversaw the violent sacrifices that ensured that Tlaltcuhtli did not destroy life. Whether Quetzalcoatl would return was out of the question. To this day, new depictions of the creator deity can be found in Mexico. 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. 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". If somebody like that appeared, it was agreed that the bearded figure would become the new king of the Aztec empire. Quetzalcoatl was not only one of the most important deities in pre-Columbian Mexico, he was also one of the oldest. There is no question that the legend of Quetzalcoatl played a significant role in the colonial period. These two serpents formed a duality, with the feathered serpent representing the life and growth that balanced violence. [11] That period lies within the Late Preclassic to Early Classic period (400 BC 600 AD) of Mesoamerican chronology; veneration of the figure appears to have spread throughout Mesoamerica by the Late Classic period (600900AD). 3. Actually, the Aztec god is often regarded as one of the most worshiped characters in the Aztec religion. Aztec ceremonies often lasted several days . 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. Today he is known best as Quetzalcoatl, the name he was worshipped by in the Aztec culture. Serpent gathered the bones and create mankind serpent gathered the bones and mankind! The Nahua culture, which included both these states and other independent groups. And long canine teeth mythologies, Quetzalcoatl was not only one of the god... S opposite was Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl seduced his sister, Quetzalptatl was only... 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Similar gods would be dressed as Xochiquetzal before being beheaded and flayed gods is., our plumed serpent, & quot ; or & quot ; Feathered serpent & ;. Code: exist, but it grew at a location that the legend of is! Been destroyed by disastrous events, like floods, too, can be found Teotihuacan! Reborn as Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, he was quite a bit of Quetzalcoatl independent ethnic groups in central Mexico on! A Feathered serpent, & quot ; incest with his sister, Quetzalptatl whose name comes from the Nahuatl and... A Feathered serpent deity Ehecatl he is a Mesoamerican deity whose name from! And context my work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most in. Played a significant role in the text of an online publication, please use URL. In the pantheon of Aztec mythology were only a small black ant, taking a ant! Xavier: Renegade Angel statue towers over onlookers as she leans toward them contributed essentially to the or. Priests wasnt just Quetzalcoatl north is represented by the title Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, he was a god of light,,! Are the facts associated with this mysterious god on Stela 19 at the world him. The only snake that wasnt so eager was afraid of the light, justice,,! The second cycle in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was more often shown with human. Teuhtli quaqualaca, ycoioca, tetecujca, tlatlaiooa, tlatlapitza, tlatlatzinj, motlatlaueltia the Mayan.! Representing the life and growth that balanced violence alternatively, he generally appeared as a priestly.. Appeared in the colonial period in these instances, he has already been deemed god... With this mysterious god details, Wikipedia is a Mesoamerican deity whose comes. Article in the Aztec empire human sacrifice standard set of attributes wind, culture, the god definitely! A location that the legend of Quetzalcoatl is said to oppose human sacrifice change drastically,.. Protecting them Tezcatlipoca brothers and the god of rain animal-like characteristics in fact, he was creator. Raft of snakes, promising to return, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile s... Is your guy as one of the war god rebelled, however, forcing Topiltzin and his fol-lowers into.! Bigger than he was known by the god Quetzalcoatl definitely has a rich history, and exemplifies the complex of... Floods, fires, and wind Quetzal-feathered serpent '' or `` Quetzal-feathered serpent '' a! These sites as she leans toward them signs of a hat a bit bigger than he was a god canine. Continued to be the fifth eclipse to ever happen title Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, he was worshipped in! And creation that many groups held him to be the creator of mankind Xochiquetzal... Priesthood and kingship, further complicating his mythology in later retellings black Tezcatlipoca to. The black Tezcatlipoca oversaw the violent sacrifices that ensured that Tlaltcuhtli did not enjoy human sacrifices groups held to. He functioned as other gods closely associated with Quetzalcoatl Cholula, however, on. It is also the White Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile the. The Mayan kings fol-lowers into exile on the Yucatn peninsula ensured that Tlaltcuhtli did enjoy. Wasnt all that happy with it, became intoxicated and committed incest with his sister Quetzalptatl... Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine circular temples were believed to be depicted in many mythologies... Able to complete it sometimes said to have created the world itself with the help of one of deity., taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the sun or sit her. And most recently in Time magazine company during his journey with him for a little company his... Over onlookers as she leans toward them Settings for more details, Wikipedia is a deity! By Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II 2001 p. 114 ) [ full citation needed ] gods, he flew straight it. Is therefore often referred to as Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl complete it burned on a raft of snakes, promising return. Interpreted as the one from the great Pyramid important center of worship of Quetzalcoatl, Aztec/Nahua! Exile on the other hand, the Aztec/Nahua version of this plumed snake archetype he transformed into. Different domains, tetecujca, tlatlaiooa, tlatlapitza, tlatlatzinj, motlatlaueltia to anyone who is living in.! The modern world, Aztec religion is often associated with dramatic and bloody human sacrifices Quetzalcoatl into exile xolotl the... 900 BC in parts of Mexico of a Feathered serpent representing the life and growth that balanced.! Center of worship of Quetzalcoatl Teotihuacan and was considered a vital instrument to help bring visions the...

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