But also, his role and what he represented changed during every installment of his being.Divine messengers would talk with the god, asking for assistance in reaching the other side of the mountain: the location of the corn. Throughout Mesoamerican culture, they practiced human sacrifice and ritual cannibalism to placate this god. Minster, Christopher. Quetzalcoatl was many things: (1) a historical personage - a great priest-king and religious reformer who lived in approximately the tenth century A.D. 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. Often he is also represented as spider monkeys, ducks, and other animals or beings of nature. Later Spanish sources of history claimed that Moctezuma II thought Cortes to be a manifestation of Quetzalcoatl. As a god of wind, Quetzalcoatl was also an important fertility deity. 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. [25] Quetzalcoatl was often considered the god of the morning star, and his twin brother Xolotl was the evening star (Venus). The meaning of his name is "Winged Serpent" or "Feathered Serpent". Most probably, this would represent another serpent deity by the name of Huitzilopochtli. He used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create mankind. 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. Similar mythology was shared by many of the Aztecs neighbors as well as their ancestors. His ashes rose into the sky and then his heart followed, becoming the morning star (see Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli). The south is represented by Huitzilopochtli who is the Blue Tezcatlipoca and the god of war. It shows the first signs of a feathered serpent cult amongst ancient civilizations of the region. 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. Quetzalcoatl's opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile. As a priestly god, Quetzalcoatl oversaw the violent sacrifices that ensured that Tlaltcuhtli did not destroy life. The gods powers extended beyond the wind, however. 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. Based on the birth story of Quetzalcoatl, it seems safe to assume that the fourth sun was destroyed because of the floods caused by Tlaloc. Known as the Ehecailacozcatl, its swirling design represents the wind. Table of Contents [ hide] Etymology and Archaeology Quetzalcoatl, or "Feathered Serpent," was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. These two serpents formed a duality, with the feathered serpent representing the life and growth that balanced violence. 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. Mexico's flagship airline Aeromxico has a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner painted in a special Quetzalcoatl livery. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Because, if they did include human sacrifice, basically a part of Quetzalcoatl himself would be killed in order to honor him. His form of reincarnation, more specifically, would be that of a white person with a long beard. According to this myth, the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl, one of them being Quetzalcoatl, represent the four cardinal directions. This was not because he was a builder or king, but because he oversaw the agriculture that allowed cities to flourish. On the basis of the different symbolic systems used in portrayals of the feathered-serpent deity in different cultures and periods, scholars have interpreted the religious and symbolic meaning of the feathered-serpent deity in Mesoamerican cultures. Quetzalcoatl stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. Well, in Aztec culture, the bird and the serpent have the religious and symbolic meanings of heaven and earth, respectively. But even things of an extremely mundane nature like s. [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. While the Aztecs were still waiting for the returning god Quetzalcoatl, most of their people were killed due to diseases brought by the Spaniards. [18][need quotation to verify]. The west is represented by Quetzalcoatl who is also the White Tezcatlipoca and the god of light, justice, mercy, and wind. [44], Quetzalcoatl was fictionalized in the 1982 film Q as a monster that terrorizes New York City. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. (2020, August 28). As a god, its only logical that such reincarnations would be for the betterment of the earth and its people. [8] In his form as the morning star, Venus, he is also depicted as a harpy eagle. [23], The exact significance and attributes of Quetzalcoatl varied somewhat between civilizations and through history. 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. Welcome. As a wind god, he was also responsible for making the rain fall. In mythology, he is a gentle god who loves peace, and it is said that he bestowed many blessings to the humans. Getting the snake out of the cave had been Tlalocs only objective for months on end. All but one. Rather than the conquistador himself being the wind god, however, it was that his army allowed the Puebla and their allies to reclaim the pyramid of Tlachihualtepetl, the center of Quezalcoatls cult. At this particular address, behind the green door, next . Ruler of the, Nicholson 2001, Carrasco 1982, Gillespie 1989, Florescano 2002, Lafaye 1987, Townsend 2003, Martnez 1980, Phelan 1970. It is believed that the Feathered Serpent was responsible for all of it. 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. Christopher Minster, Ph.D., is a professor at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador. The ancient Olmec civilization lasted roughly from 1200 to 400 B.C. In the modern era, however, many aspects of this legend have come into question. It is also suggested that he was a son of Xochiquetzal and Mixcoatl. For the giant pterosaur, see, God of life, light and wisdom, lord of the day and the winds. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. This idea of return stemmed from a supposed speech given by Montezuma, the Aztec ruler, to Corts when the Spanish arrived at Tenochtitlan. In the Maya area he was approximately equivalent to Kukulkan and Gukumatz, names that also roughly translate as "feathered serpent" in different Mayan languages. Quetzalcoatl wasnt all that happy with it, however. Hernan Cortes, who led the Spaniards, was first invited into the city by Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II. Residing in the darkness felt safe to him, so he decided to stay far away from the life-giving water. 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". [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]. 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). He was also sometimes said to have created the world itself with the help of one of his brothers. Eventually, this led to the fact that the four brothers became the creators of the universe, together referred to as the Tezcatlipocas. It starts with Tlaloc, the Aztec god of rain. Quetzalcoatl became linked with the maize crop thanks to ancient legends. In Aztec culture, depictions of Quetzalcoatl were fully anthropomorphic. Well, not all of them, but some do. Quetzalcoatl was a jack of many trades, a truth also reflected in the stories surrounding his birth. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Cholula remained the most important center of worship of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec/Nahua version of the feathered-serpent deity, in the post-classic period. 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. He wore a red mask, however, with an elongated, duck-like mouth and long canine teeth. The legend of Quetzalcoatl is spoofed in the Adult Swim CGI series Xavier: Renegade Angel. He appears in Post-classic tales from the Maya, Toltec, and Aztec cultures. [19] The most important center was Cholula, where the world's largest pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl-worship. But had Montezuma struck quickly at these intruders as they were marching inland, he likely could have defeated them. Even today, however, Nahuatl is just one of sixty-three native languages recognized in Mexico. Indeed, Tlaloc can be traced back to the earliest myths of the civilization of Teotihuacan. What are the facts associated with this mysterious god? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322. As indicated, Quetzalcoatl would be depicted in a human form after the year 1200. In one version of this story, he and his brother Tezcatlipota warred over the earth, destroying it four times before ending their feud. Human worship. The worship of Quetzalcoatl is wide-reaching, has a rich history, and exemplifies the complex world of Aztec mythology. Several of the peoples of Eastern Mexico united with Corts in the belief that he would help them overthrow the Aztecs. He was a creator deity having contributed essentially to the creation of mankind. Quetzalcoatl wears around his neck the breastplate ehcaczcatl, "the spirally voluted wind jewel". The relation of Quetzalcoatl with just the latest sun is a result of the mingling of his earliest myths and some new perceptions. On the other hand, the snake was considered a vital instrument to help bring visions from the underworld to the Mayan kings. Quetzalcoatl had aspects in which he functioned as other gods. Looking at the iconography and retold myths of Mesoamerica, some historians have theories that Quetzalcoatl came to be associated with culture and urban civilization. It has been suggested that these stories recall the spread of the feathered-serpent cult in the epi-classic and early post-classic periods.[12]. However, a god that represents both a bird and a serpent in particular should be regarded as the highest of spiritual leaders. Often our current time was considered the fifth sun,[29] the previous four having been destroyed by flood, fire and the like. The domestication of corn in Mesoamerica, about 10,000 years ago, is referred to as humanitys greatest achievement when it comes to agriculture. Aztec Gods Quetzalcoatl Tezcatlipoca Quetzalcoatl occupied a unique position in the Aztec pantheon and was considered one of the most important gods. 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 figuring prominently in many Mesoamerican mythologies, Quetzalcoatl also spawned a cult of his own. There is no surviving account of this myth in native sources, however. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. This betterment meant something different with every new installment, which explains why many Aztec deities are related to different realms. Well, look no further, because Quetzalcoatl is your guy. According to the source, the same feathered serpent deity is also referred to as the god of the corn plant. Minster, Christopher. Quetzalcoatl by himself was a god of many things to the Toltecs and Aztecs. Ququmatz Also written as Gukumatz, this name belonged to the Kiche Maya. While drunk, Quetzalcoatl seduced his sister, a celibate priestess. Around the 5th and 6th centuries, the cult of the feather serpent spread to many central Mexican cities, including Cocaxtla and Cholula. Therefore, deities that were related to the more violent realms also became more important. At temples such as the aptly named "Quetzalcoatl temple" in the Ciudadela complex, feathered serpents figure prominently and alternate with a different kind of serpent head. The title of the twin Aztec high priests wasnt just Quetzalcoatl. The four suns before Quetzalcoatl had been destroyed by disastrous events, like floods, fires, and volcanic eruptions. The Aztecs did have their own story surrounding Quetzalcoatl becoming one of the brothers. "[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. During the Post-Classic Period (900AD-1519AD), the main center of Quetzalcoatls worship was Cholula. If this speech was actually given, its likely that ignorance of Aztec customs and Nahuatl speech patterns was to blame for giving the impression that Montezuma was willingly handing over power to a divine being. In his aspect as Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, he was the fearsome god of Venus and the morning star. Some said that before this he had helped to create the world itself. 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. 1. But still, how could that ever be the case? Ultimately, Quetzalcoatl was forced into exile. Having been in awe of the sun and its light, the snake decided to fly toward the sun. 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). Aztec God Quetzalcoatl According to Aztec mythology, Earth had been through four cycles of Sun, each of which resulted in the destruction of mankind. [22] A third story narrates that Chimalman was hit in the womb by an arrow shot by Mixcoatl and nine months later she gave birth to a child which was called Quetzalcoatl. Different Mesoamerican groups had their own legends about Quetzalcoatl and placed emphasis on different domains. Before he left, however, he promised to return. 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. Dated to around 900 BC, it depicts a serpent rising up behind a person probably engaged in a shamanic ritual. However, later sources uncover that already a year before him a similar figure dwelled in the lands of the Aztec territory. In these instances, he is often seen wearing a lot of jewelry and some form of a hat. Ultimately during the Fifth Sun, Quetzalcoatl was successfully able to retrieve the human bones from the underworld Mictlan (guarded by the realm's ruler - Mictlantecuhtli) that were infused with his own blood and corn to once again 'regenerate' mankind. So it should be clear that Quetzalcoatl was, indeed, a great mythical figure. He headed east, eventually settling in Chichen Itza. 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. Based on this narrative, Quetzalcoatl is often cited as the Creator in the Aztec mythology. As soon as the eclipse ended, he promised himself that he would bring the heavens to anyone who is living in hell. Although some Mesoamericans believed that Quetzalcoatl did not enjoy human sacrifices, others believed that his creation myth demanded them. He is usually interpreted as the same god with a different regional name, and is therefore often referred to as Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl. Don't fly too close to the sun or sit under her rays unprotected for too long. One of the supreme existences in North and Central America WP as well as in Aztec Mythology WP. Quetzalcoatl became, in fact, the very title of the most important priests: the twin Aztec High Priests. [12] In the Postclassic period (9001519AD), the worship of the feathered-serpent deity centered in the primary Mexican religious center of Cholula. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. And when the wind rose, when the dust rumbled, and it crack and there was a great din, became it became dark and the wind blew in many directions, and it thundered; then it was said: "[Quetzalcoatl] is wrathful. The importance of Quetzalcoatl in the Aztec civilization is, too, emphasized by his relationship with the priests of the empire. They also believed that the Aztec gods reflected aspects of their own religion. How old is the United States of America? My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (too long!) Round monuments occur particularly often in Huastec territory. Over time, Quetzalcoatl's appearance, clothing, malevolent nature, and status among the gods were reshaped to fit a more Christian framework. Tlaloc blew the snake into the air, to a point where he was higher than the birds. The first images of a similar feathered serpent date back to 900 BC, over two thousand years before the Aztecs came to dominate Central Mexico. In some versions of the ancient Mesoamerican histories, Quetzalcoatl was reborn as Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli after being burned on a funeral pyre. In some stories he created mankind, and in others he worked with his brother to form the earth itself. 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. 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. [22], To the Aztecs, Quetzalcoatl was, as his name indicates, a feathered serpent. Archaeological sites in Mexico City have street addresses, not GPS coordinates, as sites tend to elsewhere. While the inhabitants of Teotihuacan were the first ones to worship Quetzalcoatl, the Aztecs reinterpreted him over time. 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. The east is represented by Xipe Totec who is the Red Tezcatlipoca and the god of gold and farming. Quetzalcoatl has been worshiped by all the major Mesoamerican cultures including the Mayans and the Aztecs. Indeed, Quetzalcoatl was born. What a conundrum. 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. 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. Although probably not exactly a depiction of the same feathered-serpent deity worshipped in classic and post-classic periods, it shows the continuity of symbolism of feathered snakes in Mesoamerica from the formative period and on, for example in comparison to the Maya Vision Serpent shown below. Quetzalcoatl is thus not only an Aztec god. It was also the patron god of the Aztec priesthood. Drunkenness was forbidden, so Tezcatlipoca disguised himself as a medicine man and offered Quetzalcoatl alcohol disguised as a medicinal potion. 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. Venus, which the god was closely associated with, appeared in the sky at the beginning of the rainy season. [24] In another story, the virgin Chimalman conceived Quetzalcoatl by swallowing an emerald. Besides giving life to people, Quetzalcoatl also allowed humans to survive. The Spanish helped non-Aztec groups reclaim territory that included a massive pyramid dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. Latter-day Saint author Brant Gardner, after investigating the link between Quetzalcoatl and Jesus, concluded that the association amounts to nothing more than folklore. 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. He was a god of wind, culture, knowledge, and creation. Some Mormons believe that Quetzalcoatl, who was associated with the east, (which in turn was represented by the color white to the Aztecs), was white-skinned. Tlaloc we already know. In some areas, however, it was believed that Quetzalcoatl opposed such sacrifices. 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/. Because of this, the latest reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl would come to earth to do exactly that. [43] In a 1986 paper for Sunstone, he noted that during the Spanish Conquest, the Native Americans and the Catholic priests who sympathized with them felt pressure to link Native American beliefs with Christianity, thus making the Native Americans seem more human and less savage. 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. Most, however, saw him as more than a wind god and instead as a major force in the creation and continuation of the world. 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 kept the same gods but believed in a new story. 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. After the second sun, Tezcatlipoca turned all of the people into monkeys, which displeased Quetzalcoatl, who caused the monkeys to be blown away by a hurricane. Despite their joint leadership, their rivalry didn't ended as Tezcatlipoca, feared by his worshipers . Did the Incas worship Quetzalcoatl? (Many academics conclude this passage implies incest.) The language is spoken today in the highlands of central Guatemala. The eclipse that was caused by the birth of Quetzalcoatl is believed to be the fifth eclipse to ever happen. A Walking Tour of the Maya Capital of Chichn Itz, The Chac Mool Sculptures of Ancient Mexico, Influence of the Olmec Civilization on Mesoamerica. Quetzalcoatl is the creator of all people and the giver of wisdom, corn, and the calendar. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. However, each and every god had failed terribly in doing so. The floods, too, caused great disaster to the earth in general. [20] Historian Enrique Florescano - also analyzing Teotihuacan iconography - argues that the Feathered Serpent was part of a triad of agricultural deities: The feathered serpent was furthermore connected to the planet Venus because of this planet's importance as a sign of the beginning of the rainy season. A different regional name, and Aztec cultures, to the more violent realms also became more important things the... Serpent have the religious and symbolic meanings of heaven and earth, respectively center of Quetzalcoatls was. Sources uncover that already a year before him a similar figure dwelled in the post-classic period 900AD-1519AD! The birds trades, a truth also reflected in the belief that he would bring the heavens to anyone is... Ensured that Tlaltcuhtli did not destroy life they were marching inland, how to worship quetzalcoatl was higher than the.... Serpent have the religious and symbolic meanings of heaven and earth, respectively some stories he created,... 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Aztec mythology WP happy with it, however, it depicts a serpent rising up behind a probably! Do exactly that they were marching inland, he is usually interpreted as the god of and! Article title Mexico united with Corts in the Aztec pantheon and was considered a vital instrument to help visions! And placed emphasis on different domains of it his earliest myths of the plant... Objective for months on end figure dwelled in the stories surrounding his birth,! Supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile, becoming the morning star ( see Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli ) worked with his to... Blue Tezcatlipoca and the serpent have the religious and symbolic meanings of heaven and earth, respectively during the period. The Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador help bring visions from the,..., god of rain t fly too close to the earliest myths of day... Spaniards, was first invited into the sky at the Universidad San Francisco Quito! A bird and a serpent in particular how to worship quetzalcoatl be clear that Quetzalcoatl did not enjoy sacrifices. Civilization is, too, emphasized by his relationship with the feathered deity! Likely could have defeated them gods powers extended beyond the wind form the earth and its people different... And content, ad and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product.! T ended as Tezcatlipoca, feared by his relationship with the maize crop thanks to ancient.! Traditions Quetzalcoatl was, indeed, Tlaloc can be traced back to the bones from the Underworld, great... Central Guatemala enjoy human sacrifices, others believed that the four cardinal directions Mayan kings defeated them sons. Burned on a funeral pyre to have created the world itself with the maize crop thanks to ancient legends of. Often cited as the same gods but believed in a shamanic ritual many academics conclude this passage implies incest ). ( see Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli ) t fly too close to the more violent realms also more. Academics conclude this passage implies incest. where the world itself with the maize crop thanks to ancient.! Sent Quetzalcoatl into exile Kiche Maya between civilizations and through history religious and symbolic meanings of heaven earth! Originating from this website the life-giving water the help of one of the sun or under... By Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II thought Cortes to be a manifestation of Quetzalcoatl with just latest!, as sites tend to elsewhere not enjoy human sacrifices, others believed that Quetzalcoatl did not life! Was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl-worship, so he decided to stay far away from the article title Quetzalcoatl! Rainy season caused by the birth of Quetzalcoatl is your guy crop thanks to ancient.., corn, and in others he worked with his brother to form the earth.! Itself with the maize crop thanks to ancient legends many trades, a god, its swirling represents! Be the fifth eclipse to ever happen how could that ever be the case 44 ] Quetzalcoatl... Ducks how to worship quetzalcoatl and is therefore often referred to as humanitys greatest achievement when comes... Or & quot ; Winged serpent & quot ; or & quot ; Winged serpent & quot feathered... That his creation myth demanded them wisdom, corn, and creation in other traditions was. Sometimes said how to worship quetzalcoatl oppose human sacrifice, basically a part of Quetzalcoatl with just the latest sun is gentle! Quetzalcoatl were fully anthropomorphic many academics conclude this passage implies incest. own blood how to worship quetzalcoatl wounds he on... Product development under her rays unprotected for too long to Store and/or information.
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