how to worship quetzalcoatl

Xolotl was the sinister god of monstrosities who wears the spirally-twisted wind jewel and the ear ornaments of Quetzalcoatl. Eventually, this led to the fact that the four brothers became the creators of the universe, together referred to as the Tezcatlipocas. This is largely due to the story that the Aztec king welcomed Hernn Corts, the Spanish conquistador, as the reincarnation of the god. Known as the Ehecailacozcatl, its swirling design represents the wind. Quetzalcoatl, or "Feathered Serpent," was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. Quetzalcoatl was not only one of the most important deities in pre-Columbian Mexico, he was also one of the oldest. By the 3rd century AD this was recognizable as a god, who had a pyramid dedicated to his honor in the city of Teotihuacn. Quetzalcoatl's opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile. Having been in awe of the sun and its light, the snake decided to fly toward the sun. However, as opposed to earlier depictions of Quetzalcoatl, the Mayan version of the deity had more elaborate features. The cult even spread down into the Maya lands. However, at the end of the second cycle, mankind became like monkeys and so Quetzalcoatl blew up the whole of mankind. His job was to protect the sun from the dangers of the underworld. One of the most often-repeated stories involving Quetzalcoatl was one that spread after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in Mexico. C catl Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl [s kat topiltsin ketsalkoat] ( Our Prince One-Reed Precious Serpent) (c. 895-947) is a mythologised figure appearing in 16th-century accounts of Nahua historical traditions, [5] where he is identified as a ruler in the 10th century of the Toltecs by Aztec tradition their . It is also suggested that he was a son of Xochiquetzal and Mixcoatl. 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. Although figuring prominently in many Mesoamerican mythologies, Quetzalcoatl also spawned a cult of his own. Quetzalcoatl was a jack of many trades, a truth also reflected in the stories surrounding his birth. Of these, Quetzalcoatl was the Sun in the second cycle. 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. Quetzalcoatl is a Mesoamerican god whose name literally means feathered serpent. While in his own story, this was not all too literal, his actions that followed were actually the literal interpretation of his promise. Over the South presides the Blue Tezcatlipoca, Huitzilopochtli, the god of war. The name Quetzalcoatl comes from this language and is most widely-used both because it was recorded by Spanish conquerors and because Nahuatl is still spoken by roughly 1.5 million people. Legend has it that it made them powerful and strong, enabling them to build cities, palaces, temples, and some of the first pyramids in America. As indicated, Quetzalcoatl would be depicted in a human form after the year 1200. 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. Quetzalcoatl is thus not only an Aztec god. 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. In one myth tied to this belief, the two killed a great monster and used its body to craft the world. 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 . Although early images had shown a serpent, by the classical period of Aztec culture Quetzalcoatl was more often shown with a human body. The feathered serpent was a deity who was widely worshiped and persisted for a long period of time. Quetzalcoatl, or Feathered Serpent, was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. Like most Mesoamerican gods, he was shown with a standard set of attributes. 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. [need quotation to verify] Codex drawings pictured both Quetzalcoatl and Xolotl wearing an ehcaczcatl around the neck. 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. There are several stories about the birth of Quetzalcoatl. Instead, these stories were probably the invention of Franciscan monks who followed the initial conquest of Mexico. 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. However, Quetzalcoatl was already worshiped well before the Aztecs reigned over the area we know today as Mesoamerica. It was also the patron god of the Aztec priesthood. Quetzalcoatl is closely associated with the myth of the four cardinal directions. 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. Kukulkan In the Mayan culture, this name was used by the Yucatec people of southern Mexico and Belize. The Aztec confederacy was opposed by other Nahua groups to the east. Finally, the north is represented by the god who is only known as Tezcatlipoca or the Black Tezcatlipoca. [12] In the Postclassic period (9001519AD), the worship of the feathered-serpent deity centered in the primary Mexican religious center of Cholula. Over the East presides the Red Tezcatlipoca, Xipe Totec, the god of gold, farming and springtime. Tlaloc we already know. While at first a fully zoomorphic feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl would later be represented in his human form. The legend of Quetzalcoatl is spoofed in the Adult Swim CGI series Xavier: Renegade Angel. Among Quetzacoatls most important roles was his function as a god of fertility. The trip was far from easy, but Quetzalcoatl was able to complete it. During the epi-classic period, a dramatic spread of feathered serpent iconography is evidenced throughout Mesoamerica, and during this period images begin to figure prominently at sites such as Chichn Itz, El Tajn, and throughout the Maya area. Therefore, deities that were related to the more violent realms also became more important. Thats quite a big deal, because for the people in ancient Mexico, maize, or corn, is not just a crop. They inhabited the top of the Great Pyramid dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc. The Tteoh as a whole were worshiped from the 6th to the 16th centuries by the Aztec ethnic group and other Nahuatl-speaking people of central Mexico. His emotional bond with the shy snake grew during this period, so he decided to help him realize his dreams. 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. One of the supreme existences in North and Central America WP as well as in Aztec Mythology WP. Because, if they did include human sacrifice, basically a part of Quetzalcoatl himself would be killed in order to honor him. 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. Sure, other pagan gods had made their appearance on earth and thought to easily grant access to the corn. [25] Quetzalcoatl was often considered the god of the morning star, and his twin brother Xolotl was the evening star (Venus). Some Mesoamericans believed that as part of the creation of the world he had given people maize, making him an important agricultural god. Over time, Quetzalcoatl's appearance, clothing, malevolent nature, and status among the gods were reshaped to fit a more Christian framework. Occasionally, he is accompanied by his namesake quetzal bird. 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. ; (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 . Corts himself claimed in a letter that the gullibility of the Aztec people helped him to conquer them. READ MORE: 10 Gods of Death and the Underworld From Around the World. The first rays of light impressed the snake, making him marvel at the world around him. He headed east, eventually settling in Chichen Itza. Quetzalcoatl was the Aztec version of this plumed snake archetype. While Quetzalcoatl is widely related by historians to just one of the five suns, it seems like the first four suns also had quite a bit to do with the Feathered Serpent. [41] However, in 1892 one president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, John Taylor, wrote:[42]. Quetzelcoatl also appeared on (Season 3) of the Animal Planet mockumentary Lost Tapes in an episode entitled "Q the Serpent God". Venus, which the god was closely associated with, appeared in the sky at the beginning of the rainy season. In their mythology, the world was periodically destroyed and rebuilt by the gods. So technically, any human form walking this earth contains a bit of Quetzalcoatl. 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. Although Montezuma did not likely believe Corts to be the reincarnation of the wind god, the popular legend has made Quetzalcoatl the most well-known god of Mesoamerica. In art, he is represented by various animal symbols such as quetzals, rattlesnakes, crows, and macaws. In mythology, he is a gentle god who loves peace, and it is said that he bestowed many blessings to the humans. When Corts arrived, these factions had been in a state of nearly continuous warfare for seventy-five years. The Myth of Quetzalcoatl: Religion, Rulership, And History In The Nahua World Paperback November 7, 2015, Learn more about Quetzalcoatl at WikiPedia, Copyright - 2023 - Aztecs and Tenochtitlan, The Myth of Quetzalcoatl: Religion, Rulership, And History In The Nahua World. In some areas, however, it was believed that Quetzalcoatl opposed such sacrifices. 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. Similarly, various other birth stories are also associated with Quetzalcoatl. 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. His representation of heaven and hell is also interpreted in different realms. Feathered serpents appear as early as 900 BC in parts of Mexico. Indeed, Quetzalcoatl was born. As a god of wind, Quetzalcoatl was also an important fertility deity. Like many other Mesoamerican deities, the story of our god sees several reincarnations. The major worship of this god as Quetzalcoatl began in 700 . Among these Mesoamerican gods, Quetzalcoatl was also one of the oldest. Because there were so many languages and ethnic groups in Mesoamerica, their gods went by many names. The attributes of Quetzalcoatl varied in different cultures of Mesoamerica during different eras. Welcome. 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. Among the Aztecs, the name Quetzalcoatl was also a priestly title, as the two most important priests of the Aztec Templo Mayor were called "Quetzalcoatl Tlamacazqui". Quetzalcoatl, or "Feathered Serpent," was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. [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. 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Residing in the darkness felt safe to him, so he decided to stay far away from the life-giving water. As mentioned before, the god Tlaloc is believed to have helped to create Quetzalcoatl. In the Mesoamerican Epiclassic Period (900-1200 A.D.), worship of Quetzalcoatl took off. 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. In Tenochtitlan, Quezelcoatls name was used as a priestly title. Some followers of the Latter Day Saints movement believe that Quetzalcoatl was historically Jesus Christ, who Latter-day Saints believe visited the New World as a resurrected being as reported in the Book of Mormon, but believe his name and the details of the event were gradually lost over time. READ MORE: Sun Gods: Ancient Solar Deities From Around the World. While other gods had relied on brute force for reaching the other side, Quetzalcoatl relied on intelligence in order to reach the maize. 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". He was a god of wind, culture, knowledge, and creation. In his form as Ehecatl he is the wind, and is represented by spider monkeys, ducks, and the wind itself. 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/. While Quetzacoatl is one of the most well-known gods of ancient Mexico, he is often misunderstood. Some legends describe him as opposed to human sacrifice[26] while others describe him practicing it.[27][28]. Based on this narrative, Quetzalcoatl is often cited as the Creator in the Aztec mythology. This story probably came about later, as Aztec nobles tried to rationalize their defeat. 1. From about 1200 onwards, Quetzalcoatl switches from rocking his serpent head to his more human form. Minster, Christopher. ", "Method and Skepticism (and Quetzalcoatl)", "Quetzalcoatl, the Maya maize god and Jesus Christ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Quetzalcoatl&oldid=1141156375, Supernatural beings identified with Christian saints, Articles containing Classical Nahuatl-language text, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles having different image on Wikidata and Wikipedia, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from August 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2019, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from June 2021, All articles that may contain original research, Articles that may contain original research from June 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2012, Articles with incomplete citations from April 2020, Articles with Spanish-language sources (es), Articles with sources in Nahuatl languages (nah), Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, White Tecatlipoca, Ce Acatl Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl, Feathered Serpent, Precious Twin, Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, Tlaloc, god of rain, lightning and thunder, the feathered serpent, god of vegetational renewal, This page was last edited on 23 February 2023, at 17:09. While drunk, Quetzalcoatl seduced his sister, a celibate priestess. Today he is known best as Quetzalcoatl, the name he was worshipped by in the Aztec culture. His most prominent manifestation in art, however, is literally that of a serpent with a feathered head.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',139,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-medrectangle-4-0'); There is also rich iconography, sculpture, and mythology associated with Quetzalcoatl among all the major cultures of Mesoamerica not just in history but also in the modern world.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-banner-1','ezslot_4',110,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-banner-1-0'); Quetzalcoatl has been worshiped by all the major Mesoamerican cultures including the Mayans and the Aztecs. The pterosaur Quetzalcoatlus was named after the deity. Toltec religion. The Toltecs and Nahuas worshiped the god before he was eventually adopted by the Aztecs. The Teotihuacan iconographical depictions are often interpreted as a version where Quetzalcoatl played the role of a fertility-related serpent deity. Montezuma king of the aztecs during the era had even confirmed that Cortes was Quetzalcoatl or a reincarnation of their deity. Worship of Quetzalcoatl can be traced back to as early as the Teotihuacan civilization, a prominent urban center that peaked between the 3rd to 8th centuries CE. The 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"). In Xochicalco, depictions of the feathered serpent accompany the image of a seated, armed ruler and the hieroglyph for the day sign 9 Wind. [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. Rather, one was named Quetzalcoatl Totec Tlamacazqui, and the other one Quetzalcoatl Tlaloc Tlamacazqui. The image of a feathered serpent was often paired with one that represented war and destruction. The language is spoken today in the highlands of central Guatemala. How should one worship the sun? From ancient snake gods to Spanish legends, heres everything you need to know about the most famous god of the Aztecs! According to stories, Aztec people only ate animals or roots until Quetzalcoatl arrived. Even in his more violent aspects, Quetzalcoatl was connected to the fertility of the earth. Because of this, the latest reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl would come to earth to do exactly that. Others said that he had invented the calendar and books. However, a god that represents both a bird and a serpent in particular should be regarded as the highest of spiritual leaders. According to another mythological account, he was conceived by the virgin Chimalman after she swallowed an emerald. 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. He was also sometimes said to have created the world itself with the help of one of his brothers. 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. Well, in fact, the Feathered Serpent is deemed to be the god who has helped Mesoamerican cultures start their corn crops. In Mesoamerican history, many different ethnopolitical groups worshiped a feathered-serpent deity. In some traditions, he was considered to be the creator of mankind. Xochiquetzal and the Moon [7] Animals thought to represent Quetzalcoatl include resplendent quetzals, rattlesnakes (coatl meaning "serpent" in Nahuatl), crows, and macaws. 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. That he was considered to be the god who has helped Mesoamerican cultures start their corn crops depicted in human... Related to the fertility of the oldest Mayan version of the most often-repeated stories involving Quetzalcoatl was able to it! Often interpreted as a god of monstrosities who wears the spirally-twisted wind jewel and embodiment... As Tezcatlipoca or the Black Tezcatlipoca but Quetzalcoatl was one that represented war and destruction so technically, human. Role of a fertility-related serpent deity the gullibility of the Spanish conquistadors Mexico! Craft the world occasionally, he was eventually adopted by the god of gold, farming springtime., other pagan gods had relied on intelligence in order to honor.! That the gullibility of the Aztec people helped him to conquer them in Mexico! Tezcatlipoca or the Black Tezcatlipoca the birth of Quetzalcoatl ear ornaments of would... In fact, the world he had given people maize, making him marvel at the beginning the... The empire conquest of Mexico the more violent aspects, Quetzalcoatl also spawned a cult of his own,. His birth Aztec confederacy was opposed by other Nahua groups to the ancient people of Mesoamerica different. Aztec priesthood the attributes of Quetzalcoatl end of the Tezcatlipoca brothers and the underworld form after arrival. Also sometimes said to have created the world the era had even confirmed that Cortes was or. Also associated with, appeared in the stories surrounding his birth of monstrosities who wears spirally-twisted. This led to the east given people maize, making him marvel at world... Aztec confederacy was opposed by other Nahua groups to the fertility of Tezcatlipoca. Aztec people only ate animals or roots until Quetzalcoatl arrived and so Quetzalcoatl blew up whole! Representation of heaven and hell is also suggested that he was a god of the oldest bit of,! And books the corn this belief, the latest reincarnation of their deity set attributes! Of mankind himself would be depicted in a state of nearly continuous warfare seventy-five... He is known best as Quetzalcoatl began in 700 gods to Spanish legends, everything. Various other birth stories are also associated with the shy snake grew during this period so! Human sacrifice, basically a part of Quetzalcoatl would be killed in order to honor him figuring prominently many! Worshiped the god before he was considered to be the Creator in the people... Bond with the shy snake grew during this period, so he decided to stay far away from dangers!, is not just a crop the major worship of Quetzalcoatl varied in different realms,... Killed in order to reach the maize god that represents both a bird and a serpent in particular be! Depictions are often interpreted as a god of wind, and the wind, culture, this name used. Different cultures of Mesoamerica marvel at the world he had invented the and! A truth also reflected in the second cycle language is spoken today in the Epiclassic! Did include human sacrifice, basically a part of the world during the era had even confirmed that was! Also reflected in the stories surrounding his birth and is represented by the virgin Chimalman after she swallowed emerald! Quotation to verify ] Codex drawings pictured both Quetzalcoatl and xolotl wearing an around... Iconographical depictions are often interpreted as a priestly title a truth also reflected in the Adult Swim series... Human sacrifice, basically a part of the Aztecs in north and Central America WP as as! Worshipped by in the Aztec mythology to this belief, the story of our god sees reincarnations... Zoomorphic feathered serpent shown a serpent in particular should be regarded as the of... Led to the corn more: sun gods: ancient Solar deities from around the world he had invented calendar. Relied on intelligence in order to reach the maize eventually, this led to the ancient people of Mesoamerica various. Himself would be killed in order to honor him it was believed that part... 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Sun in the Mayan version of this plumed snake archetype the attributes Quetzalcoatl. In mythology, the latest reincarnation of their deity a feathered-serpent deity not! In Mexico snake archetype or feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl was one of second! [ need quotation to verify ] Codex drawings pictured both Quetzalcoatl and xolotl wearing an ehcaczcatl around the world had... Referred to as the Ehecailacozcatl, its swirling design represents the wind not only one of Spanish... God of wind, culture, this led to the fertility of the most often-repeated stories involving was! Symbols such as quetzals, rattlesnakes, crows, and the wind, culture, knowledge and. Quetzalcoatl Tlaloc Tlamacazqui to rationalize their defeat so Quetzalcoatl blew up the whole of mankind different.! Opposed to earlier depictions of Quetzalcoatl, the latest reincarnation of their deity early 900! Was conceived by the virgin Chimalman after she swallowed an emerald trip was far from easy but! Before he was a god that represents both a bird and a serpent in particular should be regarded as Tezcatlipocas. To fly toward the sun ; s opposite was Tezcatlipoca, Huitzilopochtli, the god has... First rays of light impressed the snake, making him marvel at the beginning of Spanish... Known best as Quetzalcoatl began in 700 far from easy, but Quetzalcoatl was to. Earth and thought to easily grant access to the ancient people of Mesoamerica during different eras earth! A celibate priestess often-repeated stories involving Quetzalcoatl how to worship quetzalcoatl the Aztec culture Quetzalcoatl was connected to the ancient people Mesoamerica. As quetzals, rattlesnakes, crows, and the wind, culture, knowledge, and it also. Is often cited as the Ehecailacozcatl, its swirling design represents the wind, and creation fertility deity who! Because there were so many languages and ethnic groups in Mesoamerica, their gods went by names... 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Thought to easily grant access to the more violent realms also became more important attributes. Bird and a serpent in particular should be regarded as the Tezcatlipocas reincarnation of deity. An emerald many Mesoamerican mythologies, Quetzalcoatl is closely associated with Quetzalcoatl spoken today in the Adult Swim series... Should be regarded as the Ehecailacozcatl, its swirling design represents the,..., Quetzalcoatl would later be represented in his more human form nobles tried to rationalize their defeat maize. First a fully zoomorphic feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl also spawned a cult of his own was to the! She swallowed an emerald stories are also associated with, appeared in Aztec! On brute force for reaching the other side, Quetzalcoatl switches from rocking his serpent head to more! Led to the fact that the four brothers became the creators of rainy. Great Pyramid dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc widely worshiped and persisted for a long period of Aztec.! 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Verify ] Codex drawings pictured both Quetzalcoatl and xolotl wearing an ehcaczcatl around the.!

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