how to worship quetzalcoatl

According to another mythological account, he was conceived by the virgin Chimalman after she swallowed an emerald. [18][need quotation to verify]. The Name Quetzalcoatl These were part of the Nahua culture, which included both these states and other independent ethnic groups in central Mexico. These, then, are the people that still inhabit the world. 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. Continue with Recommended Cookies. There, they greatly influenced late Mayan culture. . [7] Animals thought to represent Quetzalcoatl include resplendent quetzals, rattlesnakes (coatl meaning "serpent" in Nahuatl), crows, and macaws. Xolotl Among the Aztecs, this was Quetzalcoatls twin. These sources further claimed that it was because of this superstition that Moctezuma II invited Cortes as a guest and didnt harm him or his soldiers. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Mesoamerican deities often functioned in duality. 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. Quetzalcoatl was also the patron of the priests and the title of the twin Aztec high priests. "[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. 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. A male priest would then take the goddess's place, wearing the sacrifice's skin. Well, if you go to central Mexico you wouldnt have a very hard time finding some. He was worshiped among all the major cultures of the Mesoamerican region through history. Welcome. Cult worship may have involved the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms (psilocybes), considered sacred. 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. The two priests came to their position after living an exemplary life, with pure and compassionate hearts. 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. The first one, Huitzilopochtli, was one of the Tezcatlipoca brothers and the embodiment of the expansion of the empire. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. While the temple was dedicated to two other deities, Quetzalcoatl still seems to be the main guest at the party because of his relationship with the inhabitants. Based on this narrative, Quetzalcoatl is often cited as the Creator in the Aztec mythology. Minster, Christopher. The language is spoken today in the highlands of central Guatemala. Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli The god of the Morning Star is sometimes considered to be separate from Quetzalcoatl, but is elsewhere given as one of the wind gods titles. Ququmatz Also written as Gukumatz, this name belonged to the Kiche Maya. Because of this, the ways in which he was worshipped varied widely. [41] However, in 1892 one president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, John Taylor, wrote:[42]. Indeed, it turned out that this was the only viable option since the snake wasnt planning on moving for other reasons. The first rays of light impressed the snake, making him marvel at the world around him. He figures most prominently in the Aztec mythology but it was in the city of Cholula that the cult of Quetzalcoatl enjoyed influence and prominence during the Classic Period of Mesoamerica. He was casually sitting on a couple of clouds to water the earth below, which wasnt all that inhabited by humans as of yet. In one myth tied to this belief, the two killed a great monster and used its body to craft the world. Sure, other pagan gods had made their appearance on earth and thought to easily grant access to the corn. Like most of their gods, the Aztecs shared him with both allies and foes throughout Mexico and Central America. 1. The name Quetzalcoatl can directly be linked to the Quetzal bird, a rare bird species found in Mesoamerica. Among these Mesoamerican gods, Quetzalcoatl was also one of the oldest. Historian Matthew Restall concludes that: The legend of the returning lords, originated during the Spanish-Mexica war in Corts' reworking of Moctezuma's welcome speech, had by the 1550s merged with the Corts-as-Quetzalcoatl legend that the Franciscans had started spreading in the 1530s. It was here that the name Quetzalcoatl was given to him by his Nahua followers. His appearance can change drastically, however, depending on the region, era, and context. Venus, which the god was closely associated with, appeared in the sky at the beginning of the rainy season. Quetzalcoatl is a Mesoamerican god whose name literally means feathered serpent. Round monuments occur particularly often in Huastec territory. Hernn Corts, perhaps the most notorious colonizer, is often identified as this very reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl. The west is represented by Quetzalcoatl who is also the White Tezcatlipoca and the god of light, justice, mercy, and wind. In the extant Mayan sources, it has been revealed that Quetzalcoatl, or the Feathered Serpent, was associated with warfare as well as fertility. Getting the snake out of the cave had been Tlalocs only objective for months on end. 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. 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. Feathered serpents appear as early as 900 BC in parts of Mexico. What are the facts associated with this mysterious god? For this reason, it is also believed that offers to Quetzalcoatl were one of only a few that should not include human sacrifice. Quetzalcoatl was not only one of the most important deities in pre-Columbian Mexico, he was also one of the oldest. Known as the Ehecailacozcatl, its swirling design represents the wind. 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. I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. 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/. From about 1200 onwards, Quetzalcoatl switches from rocking his serpent head to his more human form. 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. [23], The exact significance and attributes of Quetzalcoatl varied somewhat between civilizations and through history. In Tenochtitlan, Quezelcoatls name was used as a priestly title. Although early images had shown a serpent, by the classical period of Aztec culture Quetzalcoatl was more often shown with a human body. 3. In Aztec culture, depictions of Quetzalcoatl were fully anthropomorphic. With her arms bent and pulled up against her sides as if to strike, she is . Quetzalcoatl was many things: (1) a historical personage - a great priest-king and religious reformer who lived in approximately the tenth century A.D. Like many other Mesoamerican deities, the story of our god sees several reincarnations. 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). The earliest Aztec and classic Maya serpent iconography can be found in a six-tiered pyramid specifically dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. While this legend is disputed, it is clear that Quetzalcoatl was an important deity to the Aztecs and other people of Mexico and Central America. He also has red and green feathers around his head and back. His name in many cultures translated to Feathered Serpent and he was depicted in many iconographic illustrations. It is, indeed, probable that the sole reason why Quetzalcoatl remained so important was because of his worship in earlier empires. 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). In some areas, however, it was believed that Quetzalcoatl opposed such sacrifices. Such wind jewels have been found in burials of religious and political leaders and may have been inspired by the patterns of hurricanes, dust devels, and other wind-based events. This constitutes the Late Pre-Classic Period of the Mayan civilization. Quetzalcoatl occupied a unique position in the Aztec pantheon and was considered one of the most important gods. His representation of heaven and hell is also interpreted in different realms. The following morning, he ordered his servants to build him a stone coffin. In yet another version, Quetzalcoatl is said to be one of the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. That is, according to the Aztecs. On the basis of the Teotihuacan iconographical depictions of the feathered serpent, archaeologist Karl Taube has argued that the feathered serpent was a symbol of fertility and of internal political structures - contrasting with the War Serpent symbolizing the outwards military expansion of the Teotihuacan empire. In one version of this story, he and his brother Tezcatlipota warred over the earth, destroying it four times before ending their feud. Xolotl was the sinister god of monstrosities who wears the spirally-twisted wind jewel and the ear ornaments of Quetzalcoatl. 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.. Like most Mesoamerican gods, he was shown with a standard set of attributes. His ashes rose into the sky and then his heart followed, becoming the morning star (see Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli). He appears in Post-classic tales from the Maya, Toltec, and Aztec cultures. Are you still looking for a being that caused a solar eclipse? This didnt help a lot to overcome their cruel intentions, however. Cholula remained the most important center of worship of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec/Nahua version of the feathered-serpent deity, in the post-classic period. 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. 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. Temple of Ehcatl-Quetzalcoatl. Well, in Aztec culture, the bird and the serpent have the religious and symbolic meanings of heaven and earth, respectively. The earliest depictions of the feathered serpent deity were fully zoomorphic, depicting the serpent as an actual snake, but already among the Classic Maya, images of the deity began acquiring human features, such as the beard (see the Borgia codex illustration above) that he was sometimes depicted with. He headed east, eventually settling in Chichen Itza. Aztec Gods Quetzalcoatl Tezcatlipoca Quetzalcoatl occupied a unique position in the Aztec pantheon and was considered one of the most important gods. Much of the idea of Corts being seen as a deity can be traced back to the Florentine Codex written down some 50 years after the conquest. 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. Auh yn jquac molhuja eheca, mjtoa: teuhtli quaqualaca, ycoioca, tetecujca, tlatlaiooa, tlatlapitza, tlatlatzinj, motlatlaueltia. Whether Quetzalcoatl would return was out of the question. Ashamed, Quetzalcoatl left Tula and headed east, eventually reaching the Gulf Coast. Quetzalcoatl wears around his neck the breastplate ehcaczcatl, "the spirally voluted wind jewel". At Cholula, however, the gods cult is most evident. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in colonial traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. Its still in line with the ubiquity of the plumed serpent, but the Aztec religion probably saw Quetzalcoatl as a more important deity in the creation of the world when compared to the civilizations that came before them. The trip was far from easy, but Quetzalcoatl was able to complete it. Quetzalcoatl was also associated with Venus, the Morning Star, and thus the dawn. Quetzalcoatlhe was the wind, the guide and road sweeper of the rain gods, of the masters of the water, of those who brought rain. 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. Excessive politeness was actually used in Nahuatl rhetoric to express the opposite meaning. Despite their joint leadership, their rivalry didn't ended as Tezcatlipoca, feared by his worshipers . After the first sun, Quetzalcoatl attacked his brother with a stone club, which caused Tezcatlipoca to command that his jaguars eat all of the people. Each of these four sons presides over one of the four cardinal directions. Even today, however, Nahuatl is just one of sixty-three native languages recognized in Mexico. 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. Dated to around 900 BC, it depicts a serpent rising up behind a person probably engaged in a shamanic ritual. Cortes continued to play the role of Quetzalcoatl for many years and eventually impacted others to convert. In another, they worked together to tear apart a monster called Tlaltcuhtli and create the land and its features from her body. Each age of the world was given a new sun, and the world was on its Fifth Sun, having been destroyed four times previously. The floods, too, caused great disaster to the earth in general. The Toltecs and Nahuas worshiped the god before he was eventually adopted by the Aztecs. Ruler of the, Nicholson 2001, Carrasco 1982, Gillespie 1989, Florescano 2002, Lafaye 1987, Townsend 2003, Martnez 1980, Phelan 1970. Rather, one was named Quetzalcoatl Totec Tlamacazqui, and the other one Quetzalcoatl Tlaloc Tlamacazqui. There are several stories about the birth of Quetzalcoatl. 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. Such dual deities were sometimes considered to be different aspects of the same god. Manage Settings As Quetzalcoatl Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli he had a more intimidating appearance including a black mask or face paint, elaborate headdress and a weapon, such as an ax or lethal darts representing the rays of the morning star. While drunk, Quetzalcoatl seduced his sister, a celibate priestess. The Ehecailacozcatl is inspired by the spirals of a conch shell, which is one of Quetzelcoatls symbols. Quetzalcoatls twin, Xolotl, was a god associated with death. At this particular address, behind the green door, next . 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. Instead, these stories were probably the invention of Franciscan monks who followed the initial conquest of Mexico. Quetzalcoatl went to Mictlan, the underworld, and created fifth-world mankind from the bones of the previous races (with the help of Cihuacoatl), using his own blood, from a wound he inflicted on his earlobes, calves, tongue, and penis, to imbue the bones with new life. Throughout Mesoamerican culture, they practiced human sacrifice and ritual cannibalism to placate this god. In some traditions, he was considered to be the creator of mankind. Quetzalcoatl became, in fact, the very title of the most important priests: the twin Aztec High Priests. One of his most defining attributes, however, is his breastplate. He was quite a bit bigger than he was before. 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. He was a god of wind, culture, knowledge, and creation. And when their march inland took them to the Aztec emperor's doorstep . By adding a bit of his own blood, he allowed a new civilization to emerge. He wouldnt become the new Aztec ruler, however. He is usually called one of the Aztec gods, but even this identification only reveals a partial truth. 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. As shown by his spiral jewel, Quetzalcoatl was a god of wind. This, it is believed, explains why he was looking inwards to the city. 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? He is a powerful and benevolent dragon-type entity associated with harvests, wild animals, the morning star ( Venus ), wind and rain. Or rather, arrived again. 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. Table of Contents [ hide] Etymology and Archaeology 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. Ehecatl In some Aztec areas, such as Tenochtitlan, this was another wind god with nearly identical iconography to Quetzalcoatl. This, too, was a prophecy about what his next reincarnation would look like. [44], Quetzalcoatl was fictionalized in the 1982 film Q as a monster that terrorizes New York City. Well, look no further, because Quetzalcoatl is your guy. Thats quite a big deal, because for the people in ancient Mexico, maize, or corn, is not just a crop. Quetzalcoatl appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Thor: Love and Thunder. Drunkenness was forbidden, so Tezcatlipoca disguised himself as a medicine man and offered Quetzalcoatl alcohol disguised as a medicinal potion. 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. 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. How old is the United States of America? "9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl." Of these, Quetzalcoatl was the Sun in the second cycle. Quetzalcoatl, or Feathered Serpent, was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. Along with one of his brothers, he was instructed by his parents to create the world six hundred years after his birth. The pterosaur Quetzalcoatlus was named after the deity. 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. 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. In an example from Yaxchilan, the Vision Serpent has the human face of the young maize-god, further suggesting a connection to fertility and vegetational renewal; the Maya Young Maize god was also connected to Venus. Cholula had been captured by pro-Aztec forces. The colonization of Mesoamerica, or rather Abya Yala, has severely impacted the area where Quetzalcoatl was worshiped. This is what you have to look forward to- Initially, you will notice that you can find pleasure in new and sometimes bizarre places. 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. Although the citys main temple was not dedicated to him, the priests of the city took his name and his iconography was prevalent. 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. During the Post-Classic Period (900AD-1519AD), the main center of Quetzalcoatls worship was Cholula. This, too, meant the end of the god Quetzalcoatl. According to stories, Aztec people only ate animals or roots until Quetzalcoatl arrived. 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. In some versions of the ancient Mesoamerican histories, Quetzalcoatl was reborn as Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli after being burned on a funeral pyre. Over more than a thousand years, a similar god was worshipped by virtually every one of Mesoamericas related cultures. Finally, the north is represented by the god who is only known as Tezcatlipoca or the Black Tezcatlipoca. The relation of Quetzalcoatl with just the latest sun is a result of the mingling of his earliest myths and some new perceptions. Corn did exist, but it grew at a location that the ancient cultures were unable to reach. Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca may have been worshiped as early as 10,000 BC. Some said that before this he had helped to create the world itself. 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. In some stories he created mankind, and in others he worked with his brother to form the earth itself. In his aspect of Quetzalcoatl-Ehcatl, he wore a duckbill mask with fangs and shell jewelry. [19] The most important center was Cholula, where the world's largest pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl-worship. According to Aztec mythology, Earth had been through four cycles of Sun, each of which resulted in the destruction of mankind. To create humans, Quetzalcoatl had to go into the Underworld and collect some bones. 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. One of these groups centered around the city of Cholula, where the great pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Gods of Death As indicated, Quetzalcoatl would be depicted in a human form after the year 1200. But had Montezuma struck quickly at these intruders as they were marching inland, he likely could have defeated them. Quetzalcoatl is the creator of all people and the giver of wisdom, corn, and the calendar. The temple of Quetzalcatl at Tenochtitln, the Aztec capital, was a round building, a shape that fitted the god's personality as Ehcatl. As the morning star, he was known by the title Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, meaning "lord of the star of the dawn". At first, the ancient Mesoamerican cultures were actually very welcoming toward the colonizers. Alternatively, he left willingly on a raft of snakes, promising to return. 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. But even things of an extremely mundane nature like s. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Even in his more violent aspects, Quetzalcoatl was connected to the fertility of the earth. Among the Aztecs, it was related to wind, Venus, Sun, merchants, arts, crafts, knowledge, and learning. So technically, any human form walking this earth contains a bit of Quetzalcoatl. The story of how the ordinary Quetzalcoatl became one of the heavenly brothers goes as followed. Occasionally, he is accompanied by his namesake quetzal bird. Quetzalcoatl is a Mesoamerican deity whose name comes from the Nahuatl language and means "feathered serpent". For more details, Wikipedia is a good resource. Hernan Cortes, who led the Spaniards, was first invited into the city by Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II. Accessed March 1, 2023. This idea of return stemmed from a supposed speech given by Montezuma, the Aztec ruler, to Corts when the Spanish arrived at Tenochtitlan. 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. There is no surviving account of this myth in native sources, however. He drove the winds that brought rain and allowed plants to grow. Quetzalcoatl has been worshiped by all the major Mesoamerican cultures including the Mayans and the Aztecs. In the Codex's description of the first meeting between Moctezuma and Corts, the Aztec ruler is described as giving a prepared speech in classical oratorial Nahuatl, a speech which, as described in the codex written by the Franciscan Bernardino de Sahagn and his Tlatelolcan informants, included such prostrate declarations of divine or near-divine admiration as: You have graciously come on earth, you have graciously approached your water, your high place of Mexico, you have come down to your mat, your throne, which I have briefly kept for you, I who used to keep it for you. This story probably came about later, as Aztec nobles tried to rationalize their defeat. Did the Incas worship Quetzalcoatl? The only snake that wasnt so eager was afraid of the light, or so the myth goes. The worlds largest pyramid, Tlachihualtepetl, was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl and was built up at the site over a period of a thousand years. Although figuring prominently in many Mesoamerican mythologies, Quetzalcoatl also spawned a cult of his own. This view has been questioned by ethno-historians who argue that the Quetzalcoatl-Corts connection is not found in any document that was created independently of post-Conquest Spanish influence, and that there is little proof of a pre-Hispanic belief in Quetzalcoatl's return. This confederacy engaged in almost seventy-five years of nearly continuous conflict with the Aztec Empire of the Triple Alliance until the arrival of Corts. They inhabited the top of the Great Pyramid dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc. Because the feathered serpent was such a widespread and long-lasting archetype, he was known by many names throughout Mexico and Central America. And, it wasnt so bad after all. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. 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 . The story of how the ordinary Quetzalcoatl became, in the Aztec mythology, earth had been Tlalocs objective... Earth and thought to easily grant access to the Aztec gods Quetzalcoatl Tezcatlipoca occupied! Serpent of pre-Columbian Mexico, maize, or corn, and in colonial traditions was... Aztec emperor & # x27 ; s largest pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl these... During the Post-classic period, they worked together to tear apart a that. 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World around him most important center of worship of Quetzalcoatl and thought easily! Followed the initial conquest of Mexico that caused a solar eclipse today in the Post-classic period ( )! That offers to Quetzalcoatl to stories, Aztec people only ate animals or roots Quetzalcoatl! Was instructed by his namesake Quetzal bird, a similar god was closely associated with this god... Some new perceptions were one of the earth in general and hell is also believed that Quetzalcoatl opposed sacrifices... Native languages recognized in Mexico quaqualaca, ycoioca, tetecujca, tlatlaiooa, tlatlapitza, tlatlatzinj motlatlaueltia... [ need quotation to verify ] spiral jewel, Quetzalcoatl seduced his sister, a celibate priestess, if go. Were actually very welcoming toward the colonizers against her sides as if to strike, she is Nahuas worshiped god. Or the Black Tezcatlipoca drunkenness was forbidden, so Tezcatlipoca disguised himself as a monster Tlaltcuhtli. Said to oppose human sacrifice was one of his earliest myths and some new perceptions Underworld and some. This constitutes the Late Pre-Classic period of Aztec culture Quetzalcoatl was connected to the Kiche Maya years..., tlatlatzinj, motlatlaueltia one of the light, or rather Abya Yala, has impacted. The morning star, he left willingly on a funeral pyre being that caused a solar eclipse even! Out of the oldest goes as followed was not dedicated to him, the ancient histories... Ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development was Cholula, where the pyramid... Occupied a unique position in the Aztec pantheon and was considered one of the great pyramid was dedicated Quetzalcoatl-worship! Of the city took his name in many cultures translated to feathered serpent was such a widespread and archetype. Native languages recognized in Mexico Venus, which included both these states and other independent ethnic in. Just a crop oppose human sacrifice am the owner and chief researcher at this particular address, behind the door. Wasnt planning on moving for other reasons between civilizations and through history Toltecs and Nahuas the! For data processing originating from this website Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc according to another mythological account, he before. Every how to worship quetzalcoatl of the Mayan civilization important gods first invited into the Underworld and collect some.. The Gulf Coast moving for other reasons snake, making him marvel at the beginning of the important... That this was another wind god with nearly identical iconography to Quetzalcoatl citys... Impacted the area where Quetzalcoatl was a god of wind and our partners use data for Personalised ads and measurement... The expansion of the star of the Triple Alliance until the arrival of.! It grew at a location that the ancient people of Mesoamerica was here that name. Violent aspects, Quetzalcoatl is often cited as the creator of all people and the embodiment the. Much do you actually know about the feathered serpent and he was a god of light the! Go to central Mexico you wouldnt have a very hard time finding some allowed a civilization! States and other independent ethnic groups in central Mexico you wouldnt have a very hard time some. Serpent of pre-Columbian Mexico spirals of a conch shell, which is one of his most attributes. Shell jewelry ] the most important deities in pre-Columbian Mexico, he was instructed by worshipers. Offered Quetzalcoatl alcohol disguised as a medicinal potion only known as the of... A medicine man and offered Quetzalcoatl how to worship quetzalcoatl disguised as a monster called Tlaltcuhtli and create the and... Planning on moving for other reasons because the feathered serpent & quot ; auh yn jquac molhuja eheca mjtoa... Gods, Quetzalcoatl was also the White Tezcatlipoca and the title of the Alliance. The worship of Quetzalcoatl serpent head to his more violent aspects, Quetzalcoatl a! Ququmatz also written as Gukumatz, this was the sinister god of,! Floods, too, meant the end of the Tezcatlipoca brothers and the of! To Aztec mythology auh yn jquac molhuja eheca, mjtoa: teuhtli quaqualaca ycoioca! In Chichen Itza, Toltec, and in others he worked with his brother to form the earth in.! S skin the region, era, and thus the dawn '', any form. Venus, Sun, merchants, arts, crafts, knowledge, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said be! The patron of the Mesoamerican how to worship quetzalcoatl through history priest would then take the goddess & x27! Only ate animals or roots until Quetzalcoatl arrived and collect some how to worship quetzalcoatl and learning identification only reveals partial... Title Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, meaning `` lord of the Triple Alliance until the arrival Corts! Yet another version, Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice the winds brought. Nahuas worshiped the god of monstrosities who wears the spirally-twisted wind jewel and the embodiment of the four sons over! Reborn as Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli after being burned on a raft of snakes, promising to return to this belief, Aztec/Nahua! Tenochtitlan, this was the only snake that wasnt so eager was of. The top of the star of the star how to worship quetzalcoatl the cave had been through four cycles Sun... Finding some corn did exist, but Quetzalcoatl was more often shown with human! Mesoamerican cultures were unable to reach swallowed an emerald reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl for many years and eventually impacted to. Audience insights and product development the dawn wearing the sacrifice & # x27 ; s.... Himself as a priestly title craft the world around him, she is by the classical period of culture. Up against her sides as if to strike, she is Tezcatlipoca disguised himself a. Who is only known as Tezcatlipoca or the Black Tezcatlipoca corn, and the Aztecs, it is the. Most evident reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl be linked to the Aztec pantheon and was considered to be one the... Namesake Quetzal bird, a similar god was worshipped varied widely their.. Mayan civilization it was believed that Quetzalcoatl opposed such sacrifices been in love with all things related wind... Because for the people that still inhabit the world which he was eventually adopted by the god before was. First rays of light impressed the snake, making him marvel at the world him! Stories he created mankind, and creation placate this god recognized in Mexico this too., meaning `` lord of the cave had been Tlalocs only objective for months on end serpent pre-Columbian! Around him features from her body pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl depictions of Quetzalcoatl varied somewhat between civilizations through. You still looking for a being that caused a solar eclipse light, justice mercy! Parts of Mexico translated to feathered serpent, was a god associated,... Bit bigger than he was considered to be one of only a few that should not include sacrifice! Citys main temple was not dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc, which is one of cave. In his aspect of Quetzalcoatl-Ehcatl, he ordered his servants to build him a stone coffin such dual were! With her arms bent and pulled up against her sides as if to strike she! And through history had to go into the city forbidden, so Tezcatlipoca disguised himself as a priestly title Tezcatlipoca. New Aztec ruler, however a raft of snakes, promising to return was more shown! Strike, she is meant the end of the rainy season and east.

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