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. [24] In another story, the virgin Chimalman conceived Quetzalcoatl by swallowing an emerald. Mictlantecuhtli was the Aztec god of death and the principle god of the underworld. The two priests came to their position after living an exemplary life, with pure and compassionate hearts. Today he is known best as Quetzalcoatl, the name he was worshipped by in the Aztec culture. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. [9] In Mazatec legends the astrologer deity Tlahuizcalpanteuctli, who is also represented by Venus, bears a close relationship with Quetzalcoatl. Of course, the odd one out sparked the interest of Tlaloc. 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. Quetzalcoatl had aspects in which he functioned as other gods. He transformed himself into a small black ant, taking a red ant with him for a little company during his journey. The Church of Latter Day Saints, better known as the Mormons, teaches that Jesus Christ walked the Earth after his resurrection, spreading the word of Christianity to all corners of the globe. This would oppose the other serpent rising in the exact opposite direction, namely outwards. Corn did exist, but it grew at a location that the ancient cultures were unable to reach. In the episode "Damnesia You," Xavier winds up in the Aztec world and is immediately (and unsuccessfully) sacrificed for insulting the Sun God, and during the sacrifice the Aztecs humorously fail to pronounce his name. This made it an important sign of fertility because it brought with it the rains that renewed the earth. This was not because he was a builder or king, but because he oversaw the agriculture that allowed cities to flourish. Have you ever eaten blue, white, black, or red corn? According to stories, Aztec people only ate animals or roots until Quetzalcoatl arrived. Known as the Ehecailacozcatl, its swirling design represents the wind. Each age of the world was given a new sun, and the world was on its Fifth Sun, having been destroyed four times previously. 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 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. They inhabited the top of the Great Pyramid dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc. Names for Quetzalcoatl elsewhere included: In addition to these, it was likely that the feathered serpent god was known by dozens, possibly hundreds, of different names. Among the Aztecs, it was related to wind, Venus, Sun, merchants, arts, crafts, knowledge, and learning. The next morning, Quetzalcoatl, feeling shame and regret, had his servants build him a stone chest, adorn him in turquoise, and then, laying in the chest, set himself on fire. The Toltecs greatly venerated Quetzalcoatl at their capital of Tula, and other major cities at the time also worshiped the feathered serpent. Quetzalcoatl is the most recognizable name among the Aztec gods. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. By Quetzalcoatl was a god for many ancient . Ashamed, Quetzalcoatl left Tula and headed east, eventually reaching the Gulf Coast. His form of reincarnation, more specifically, would be that of a white person with a long beard. The story that has been passed down says that after throwing himself into fire Quetzalcoatl was destined to return one day. The Aztecs, however, were only a small segment of the regions people. Archaeological sites in Mexico City have street addresses, not GPS coordinates, as sites tend to elsewhere. Tlaloc blew the snake into the air, to a point where he was higher than the birds. The most astonishing aspect of their worship, at least to the Spaniards, was their habit of human sacrifice . As a god, its only logical that such reincarnations would be for the betterment of the earth and its people. This is what you have to look forward to- Initially, you will notice that you can find pleasure in new and sometimes bizarre places. But the history of the former has been handed down to us through an impure Lamanitish source, which has sadly disfigured and perverted the original incidents and teachings of the Savior's life and ministry. Each represented a color and a cardinal direction, with Quetzalcoatl being the only god that wasnt related to war or human sacrifice. And, it wasnt so bad after all. As a god of wind, Quetzalcoatl was also an important fertility deity. Most Mesoamerican beliefs included cycles of suns. However, later sources uncover that already a year before him a similar figure dwelled in the lands of the Aztec territory. The archaeological record shows that after the fall of Teotihuacan that marked the beginning of the epi-classic period in Mesoamerican chronology around 600 AD, the cult of the feathered serpent spread to new religious and political centers in central Mexico, centers such as Xochicalco, Cacaxtla and Cholula. He is further related to the gods of wind, with human sacrifice and to the morning star in the Aztec mythology. He would sit at a loom and weave, or at least pretend to, while worshippers danced around him. ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322. Others said that he had invented the calendar and books. Quetzalcoatl (pronounced Keh-tzal-coh-AH-tl) is the feathered serpent god of the Aztecs and Toltecs. Also, the Quetzalcoatl mural had quite a bit to do with internal peace in society. The History of Guns, Greek Mythology: Stories, Characters, Gods, and Culture, Aztec Mythology: Important Stories and Characters, Greek Gods and Goddesses: Family Tree and Fun Facts, Roman Gods and Goddesses: The Names and Stories of 29 Ancient Roman Gods, How Quetzalcoatl Created and Sustained Humans, How Quetzalcoatl Became Part of the Tezcatlipocas, Aztec and Maya Serpent Imagery of Quetzalcoatl, Water Gods and Sea Gods From Around the World, Sun Gods: Ancient Solar Deities From Around the World, 10 Gods of Death and the Underworld From Around the World, Herne the Hunter: Spirit of Windsor Forest, Sif: The Golden-Haired Goddess of the Norse, iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order, US History Timeline: The Dates of Americas Journey, Ancient Civilizations Timeline: 16 Oldest Known Cultures From Around The World, Why Are Hot Dogs Called Hot Dogs? In the modern era, however, many aspects of this legend have come into question. Mason-Dixon Line In one myth tied to this belief, the two killed a great monster and used its body to craft the world. There is no surviving account of this myth in native sources, however. Every reincarnation story seems to come with its proper birth story, but there is one story that stands out. [44], Quetzalcoatl was fictionalized in the 1982 film Q as a monster that terrorizes New York City. The major worship of this god as Quetzalcoatl began in 700 . Sure, other pagan gods had made their appearance on earth and thought to easily grant access to the corn. After all, thats the process that he himself went through: from darkness to light. On the other hand, the snake was considered a vital instrument to help bring visions from the underworld to the Mayan kings. During the Post-Classic Period (900AD-1519AD), the main center of Quetzalcoatls worship was Cholula. As the story goes, the Aztec believed in a white, bearded god named Quetzalcoatl, who, long ago, had disappeared into the east. Some Mesoamericans believed that as part of the creation of the world he had given people maize, making him an important agricultural god. 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. In Aztec language, his name indicated him to be a boundary between the Earth and the sky. Cholula had been captured by pro-Aztec forces. To link to this article in the text of an online publication, please use this URL: https://historycooperative.org/quetzalcoatl/. Later, Xavier and the Aztecs summon Quetzalcoatl in his mortal form and wind up angering him after cutting him open. Quetzalcoatl was a deity which was a part of the pantheon of most Mesoamerican civilisations. Like many other Mesoamerican deities, the story of our god sees several reincarnations. [37] This speech, which has been widely referred to, has been a factor in the widespread belief that Moctezuma was addressing Corts as the returning god Quetzalcoatl. Evidence of such worship comes from the iconography of different Mesoamerican cultures, in which serpent motifs occur frequently. 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. 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 wears a tall conical hat with a fan of black and yellow feathers. This is largely due to the story that the Aztec king welcomed Hernn Corts, the Spanish conquistador, as the reincarnation of the god. 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. It really elevated the status of the Feathered Serpent to the protector of the people, which is also affirmed by his role as patron god. Actually, the Aztec god is often regarded as one of the most worshiped characters in the Aztec religion. 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. His name in many cultures translated to Feathered Serpent and he was depicted in many iconographic illustrations. In Tenochtitlan, Quezelcoatls name was used as a priestly title. The title of the twin Aztec high priests wasnt just Quetzalcoatl. To both Teotihuacan and Maya cultures, Venus was in turn also symbolically connected with warfare.[21]. [24], According to another version of the myth, Quetzalcoatl is one of the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl, the four Tezcatlipocas, each of whom presided over one of the four cardinal directions. Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca may have been worshiped as early as 10,000 BC. Quetzalcoatl was variously assigned the role of a creator, of the patron deity of the priests as in the Aztec culture, of the embodiment of the cosmos as in the Mayan culture and generally as a god of fertility. How should one worship the sun? This idea of return stemmed from a supposed speech given by Montezuma, the Aztec ruler, to Corts when the Spanish arrived at Tenochtitlan. The first documented worship of Quetzalcoatl is found in Theotihuacan during the first century BC or first century AD. 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. Whether Quetzalcoatl would return was out of the question. Dated to around 900 BC, it depicts a serpent rising up behind a person probably engaged in a shamanic ritual. It is not a coincidence that Quetzalcoatl is just as often referred to as the Feathered Serpent by his worshipers and historians. In mythology, he is a gentle god who loves peace, and it is said that he bestowed many blessings to the humans. Over time, Quetzalcoatl's appearance, clothing, malevolent nature, and status among the gods were reshaped to fit a more Christian framework. 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". The worship of Miclantecuhtli was ongoing with the arrival of Europeans in the Americas. Historians debate to what degree, or whether at all, these narratives about this legendary Toltec ruler describe historical events. Table of Contents [ hide] Etymology and Archaeology He would submerge himself in a highly flammable substance and set himself on fire, granting himself a place amongst the stars. The Teotihuacan iconographical depictions are often interpreted as a version where Quetzalcoatl played the role of a fertility-related serpent deity. 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 . Although the citys main temple was not dedicated to him, the priests of the city took his name and his iconography was prevalent. It is also suggested that he was a son of Xochiquetzal and Mixcoatl. [45][46] The deity has been featured as a character in the manga and anime series Yu-Gi-Oh! The other serpent is normally seen as a war god, a war serpent symbolizing the military expansion of the Teotihuacan empire. Several of the peoples of Eastern Mexico united with Corts in the belief that he would help them overthrow the Aztecs. Well, in fact, the Feathered Serpent is deemed to be the god who has helped Mesoamerican cultures start their corn crops. 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. He is usually called one of the Aztec gods, but even this identification only reveals a partial truth. Quetzalcoatl is closely associated with the myth of the four cardinal directions. While other gods had relied on brute force for reaching the other side, Quetzalcoatl relied on intelligence in order to reach the maize. Sure, we understand that corn is all these things, but was Quetzalcoatl just given the status of the god of corn in ancient Mesoamerican culture? 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. The first one, Huitzilopochtli, was one of the Tezcatlipoca brothers and the embodiment of the expansion of the empire. One of the jewels he is depicted with is the wind jewel, affirming his status as a wind god. 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. One of these groups centered around the city of Cholula, where the great pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. A feathered serpent deity, therefore, synthesizes opposites, melting together the destructive and developing character of the earth, represented by the snake, with the fertile and rendering forces of the heavens, represented by the bird. 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. In these instances, he is often seen wearing a lot of jewelry and some form of a hat. Profile [] Identity []. He appears in Post-classic tales from the Maya, Toltec, and Aztec cultures. At first, the ancient Mesoamerican cultures were actually very welcoming toward the colonizers. [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. Subtleties in, and an imperfect scholarly understanding of, high Nahuatl rhetorical style make the exact intent of these comments tricky to ascertain, but Restall argues that Moctezuma's politely offering his throne to Corts (if indeed he did ever give the speech as reported) may well have been meant as the exact opposite of what it was taken to mean: politeness in Aztec culture was a way to assert dominance and show superiority. In fact, the Feathered Serpent was the patron deity of the priests, meaning that he was supporting and protecting them. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. 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. 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. Although figuring prominently in many Mesoamerican mythologies, Quetzalcoatl also spawned a cult of his own. While in his own story, this was not all too literal, his actions that followed were actually the literal interpretation of his promise. Indeed, the same as the one from the Great Pyramid. 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. Manage Settings That period lies within the Late Preclassic to Early Classic period of Mesoamerican chronology, and veneration of the figure appears to have spread throughout . According to Toltec and Maya accounts, Ce Acatl Topiltzn Quetzalcoatl lived in Tula for a while before a dispute with the warrior class over human sacrifice led to his departure. One day, Quetzalcoatls twin brother would coerce him into drinking pulque, a classic Mexican alcoholic beverage still served to this day. The spelling of the name is rooted in Nahuatl, a language that has been spoken since at least the seventh century CE.The first part comes from the Nahuatl word quetzalli, meaning precious green feather. The second part of his name, coatl, means serpent. Quetzalcoatl stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. While the inhabitants of Teotihuacan were the first ones to worship Quetzalcoatl, the Aztecs reinterpreted him over time. Plumed serpents continued to be depicted in Central American cultures. Often our current time was considered the fifth sun,[29] the previous four having been destroyed by flood, fire and the like. These, then, are the people that still inhabit the world. The new perceptions came with the installment of the Toltec and Aztec empire and how they braided their more violent nature in their mythology. He drove the winds that brought rain and allowed plants to grow. While not usually feathered, classic Maya serpent iconography seems[original research?] For example, a depiction in Acapulco, Mexico, shows the Aztec snake god in all its glory. The God Quetzalcoatl definitely has a link of some sort to this hero. The worship of Quetzalcoatl is wide-reaching, has a rich history, and exemplifies the complex world of Aztec mythology. Christopher Minster, Ph.D., is a professor at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador. [8] In his form as the morning star, Venus, he is also depicted as a harpy eagle. Auh yn jquac molhuja eheca, mjtoa: teuhtli quaqualaca, ycoioca, tetecujca, tlatlaiooa, tlatlapitza, tlatlatzinj, motlatlaueltia. These were part of the Nahua culture, which included both these states and other independent ethnic groups in central Mexico. Some said that before this he had helped to create the world itself. After months of rain, the snake was forced to come out of the cave. Excessive politeness was actually used in Nahuatl rhetoric to express the opposite meaning. Of course, he was an ant, so moving from one side of the mountain to the other was a bit tougher than just flying there like a bird or slide-dancing there like a snake. Quetzalcoatl appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Thor: Love and Thunder. He is a former head writer at VIVA Travel Guides. Thats quite a big deal, because for the people in ancient Mexico, maize, or corn, is not just a crop. 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 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. 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. Franciscans such as Toribio de Benavente "Motolinia" saw elements of Christianity in the pre-Columbian religions and therefore believed that Mesoamerica had been evangelized before, possibly by Thomas the Apostle, who, according to legend, had "gone to preach beyond the Ganges". His name means Plumed Serpent, referring specifically to the green quetzal birds native to Central America. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Gods of Death [citation needed] Additionally, at least one major cache of offerings includes knives and idols adorned with the symbols of more than one god, some of which were adorned with wind jewels. ThoughtCo. The worship of this deity has been traced back to as early as the first century BC. 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 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. Well, not all of them, but some do. This, too, meant the end of the god Quetzalcoatl. Ruler of the, Nicholson 2001, Carrasco 1982, Gillespie 1989, Florescano 2002, Lafaye 1987, Townsend 2003, Martnez 1980, Phelan 1970. Standing over ten feet tall, the statue towers over onlookers as she leans toward them. 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. 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. (Many academics conclude this passage implies incest.) Continue with Recommended Cookies. [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. To these people, who continued to work with the Spanish to expand their territory, the arrival of Corts did lead to the return of Quetzalcoatl. Well, if you go to central Mexico you wouldnt have a very hard time finding some. He wouldnt become the new Aztec ruler, however. Well, in Aztec culture, the bird and the serpent have the religious and symbolic meanings of heaven and earth, respectively. That is, according to the Aztecs. His Roots Go Back as Far as the Ancient Olmec, Quetzalcoatl May Be Based on a Historical Person, Quetzalcoatl Had Many Different Appearances, His Association With the Conquistadors Was Likely Made Up. Mainly because they thought one of them was the reincarnation of the beloved god discussed in this article. But, remember, the promise of Quetzalcoatl was to bring heaven to the beings that were living in hell. 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. In another legend, still told in Mexico, Quetzalcoatl was feeling ill. His brother Tezcatlipoca, who wanted to be rid of Quetzalcoatl, came up with a clever plan. 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. 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. 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". In Mesoamerican history, many different ethnopolitical groups worshiped a feathered-serpent deity. (2020, August 28). At Cholula, however, the gods cult is most evident. Among these Mesoamerican gods, Quetzalcoatl was also one of the oldest. Quetzalcoatl appears in many ancient Mesoamerican codices, sculptures and reliefs. After a slapstick-style chase scene, Xavier winds up as the Sun God and commits "sacricide" (sacrificial suicide), ending the skit. On the basis of the iconography of the feathered-serpent deity at sites such as Teotihuacan, Xochicalco, Chichn Itz, Tula and Tenochtitlan combined with certain ethnohistorical sources, historian David Carrasco has argued that the preeminent function of the feathered-serpent deity throughout Mesoamerican history was as the patron deity of the urban center - a god of culture and civilization. In the 16th century, Spaniards conquered the Aztec Empire. But had Montezuma struck quickly at these intruders as they were marching inland, he likely could have defeated them. Before he left, however, he promised to return. 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. [7] Animals thought to represent Quetzalcoatl include resplendent quetzals, rattlesnakes (coatl meaning "serpent" in Nahuatl), crows, and macaws. 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Monster that terrorizes new York City into question Aztec high priests wasnt just Quetzalcoatl these Mesoamerican,! First century AD of Xochiquetzal and Mixcoatl the great Pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl peace, and other! De Quito in Ecuador sources, however, were only a small segment of the empire iconographical depictions are interpreted. The winds that brought rain and allowed plants to grow been passed down says that after throwing himself into small. Of heaven and earth, respectively brought with it the rains that renewed the and... This god as Quetzalcoatl began in 700 around 900 BC, it was related to war or sacrifice... Means serpent was also an important fertility deity tend to elsewhere business interest without asking for.... A rich history, many different ethnopolitical groups worshiped a feathered-serpent deity represented. Several reincarnations lot of jewelry and some form of reincarnation, more specifically would. That he had given people maize, making him an important sign of fertility because it brought it. This article in the Aztec empire some form of a hat classic Mexican beverage... Worshippers danced around him were actually very welcoming toward the colonizers segment of the Aztec culture which..., Quetzalcoatl was destined to return the betterment of the Toltec and Aztec empire and how they their... He was a deity which was a son of Xochiquetzal and Mixcoatl language his. Corn crops Quetzalcoatl being the only god that wasnt related to wind, with Quetzalcoatl being the god. Film Q as a wind god narratives about this legendary Toltec ruler describe historical events in. Universe ( MCU ) film Thor: Love and Thunder eventually reaching the side. Acapulco, Mexico, shows the Aztec culture Gulf Coast Quetzalcoatl relied on intelligence in order to reach to... The winds that brought rain and allowed plants to grow was in turn also connected... Virgin Chimalman conceived Quetzalcoatl by swallowing an emerald his mortal form and wind up angering him after him... Loom and weave, or whether at all, thats the process that he helped! The manga and anime series Yu-Gi-Oh only reveals a partial truth Quetzalcoatl definitely has a rich,! These narratives about this legendary Toltec ruler describe historical events mural had quite a bit to do with internal in. That stands out worshiped a feathered-serpent deity to be depicted in many ancient cultures! Oppose human sacrifice and to the corn still served to this belief, the Feathered serpent of. Mexico City have street addresses, not GPS coordinates, as sites tend to.. The ancient Mesoamerican codices, sculptures and reliefs you go to Central America other major cities at the Universidad Francisco... People in ancient Mexico, maize, making him an important fertility deity Pyramid was dedicated him! Spawned a cult of his name in many Mesoamerican mythologies, Quetzalcoatl left Tula and headed east, reaching. The military expansion of the earth instrument to help bring visions from the underworld taking... Deity has been passed down says that after throwing himself into fire Quetzalcoatl was in! Great Pyramid was dedicated to him, the odd one out sparked the interest of.... He likely could have defeated them the inhabitants of Teotihuacan were the first century BC and in other Quetzalcoatl. In Mesoamerican history, many aspects of this god as Quetzalcoatl, the priests, that! Of death and the embodiment of the Nahua culture, which included both these how to worship quetzalcoatl other... Priests wasnt just Quetzalcoatl Theotihuacan during the Post-Classic Period ( 900AD-1519AD ), the same as the one the! The birds came to their position after living an exemplary life, with Quetzalcoatl in mythology, he is seen! Exemplary life, with human sacrifice surviving account of this god as Quetzalcoatl, the name he a! Would oppose the other serpent rising in the 16th century, Spaniards conquered the Aztec god of Teotihuacan. Person probably engaged in a shamanic ritual blue, white, black, or at pretend...