He was a creator deity having contributed essentially to the creation of Mankind. The east is represented by Xipe Totec who is the Red Tezcatlipoca and the god of gold and farming. Different versions of the birth of god are prevalent in Mesoamerican mythology. As the morning and evening star, Quetzalcóatl was the symbol of death and resurrection. Quetzalcoatl was a deity which was a part of the pantheon of most Mesoamerican civilisations. However, as opposed to earlier depictions of Quetzalcoatl, the Mayan version of the deity had more elaborate features. The Myth of Quetzalcoatl: Religion, Rulership, And History In The Nahua World Paperback – November 7, 2015, Learn more about Quetzalcoatl at WikiPedia, Copyright - 2021 - Aztecs and Tenochtitlan. At one hand, Mayans considered a snake as the embodiment of the cosmos. Quetzalcoatl is one of the most important gods in ancient Aztec Mesoamerica. Quetzalcóatl was the son of the primordial androgynous god Ometeotl. He was, for many reasons, a dual god, who, along with his brother Xolotl represented dawn and dusk, the beginning and the end, east and west. However, independent historical sources do not substantiate this claim and later historians have disputed it as well. Huitzilopochtli, Father of the Aztecs. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Quetzalcoatl was a bringer of knowledge, the inventor of books, and associated with the planet Venus. His name in many cultures translated to “Feathered Serpent” and he was depicted in many iconographic illustrations. He was also the patron god of the Aztec priesthood, of learning and knowledge, patron of priests, the inventor of the calendar and of books, and the protector of goldsmiths and other craftsmen. Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec version of the Feathered Serpent deity, was the god of wind, bringer of maize, and instrumental in the creation of the Aztec universe. Quetzalcóatl (pronounced: ketsalˈkoːaːtɬ in Nahuatl) is an Aztec sky and creator god. Circular temples were believed to please Ehécatl because they offered no sharp obstacles to the wind. He never offered human victims, only snakes, birds, and butterflies. 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. Quetzalcóatl’s calendar name was Ce Acatl (One Reed). Hernan Cortes, who led the Spaniards, was first invited into the city by Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II. In addition to his guise as a plumed serpent, Quetzalcóatl was often represented as a man with a beard, and, as Ehécatl, the wind god, he was shown with a mask with two protruding tubes (through which the wind blew) and a conical hat typical of the Huastec people of east-central Mexico. Finally, the north is represented by the god who is only known as Tezcatlipoca or the Black Tezcatlipoca. These sources further claimed that it was because of this superstition that Moctezuma II invited Cortes as a guest and didn’t harm him or his soldiers. Aztec mythology is the body or collection of myths of Aztec civilization of Central Mexico. Quetzalcoatl occupied a unique position in the Aztec pantheon and was considered one of the most important gods. The Myth of Quetzalcoatl: Religion, Rulership, And History In The Nahua World. The legend of the victory of Tezcatlipoca over the Feathered Serpent probably reflects historical fact. Quetzalcoatl was one of the most important gods of the Aztecs and other peoples of Central America. However, at the end of the second cycle, mankind became like monkeys and so Quetzalcoatl blew up the whole of mankind. eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_4',321,'0','0']));His most prominent manifestation in art, however, is literally that of a serpent with a feathered head. One such myth is that the Aztecs believed that Hernan Cortes, the leader of a band of conquistadors, was in fact a reincarnated deity by the name of Quetzalcoatl. In the 16th century, Spaniards conquered the Aztec Empire. Mexico and found those form the Aztec civilization. But the god of the night sky, Tezcatlipoca, expelled him from Tula by performing feats of black magic. The first century of the Toltec civilization was dominated by the Teotihuacán culture, with its inspired ideals of priestly rule and peaceful behaviour. His sea voyage to the east should probably be connected with the invasion of Yucatán by the Itzá, a tribe that showed strong Toltec features. Aztec round dance for Quetzalcóatl and Xolotl (a dog-headed god who is Quetzalcóatl's companion), detail from a facsimile Codex Borbonicus (folio 26), c. 1520; original in the Chamber of Deputies, Paris, France. During the 1st Age, for instance, Quetzalcoatl attacked Tez… Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. He is one of the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl, he was often considered the god of the morning star, and his twin brother Xolotl was the evening star (Venus). His Roots Go Back as Far as the Ancient Olmec. He is the 9th of the 13 Lords of the Day and is often associated with the rain god Tláloc. In the 17th century, Ixtlilxóchitl, a descendant of Aztec royalty and historian of the Nahua people, wrote, "Quetzalcoatl, in its literal sense, means 'serpent of precious feathers', but in the allegorical sense, 'wisest of men'." In the extant Mayan sources, it has been revealed that Quetzalcoatl, or the Feathered Serpent, was associated with warfare as well as fertility. 1 Appearance 2 Overview 3 History 4 Gallery He appears as a mix of bird and rattle snake and his name is a combination of the Nahuatl words for the quetzal, the emerald plumed bird, and coatl or serpent. He also had anthropomorphic forms, for example in his aspects as Ehecatl the wind god. Each of these four sons presides over one of the four cardinal directions. Quetzalcoatl is closely associated with the myth of the four cardinal directions. The Aztec Feathered Serpent was discovered, along with several other sculptures of coiled serpents and jaguarsin the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlan which is now modern day … Although he was generally listed as one of the first-rank deities, no ceremonial month was dedicated to his cult. In Aztec language, his name indicated him to be a boundary between the Earth and the sky. For instance, he was considered the god of wind and wisdom or learning. Of these, Quetzalcoatl was the Sun in the second cycle. Aztec God Quetzalcoatl – According to one myth, Quetzalcoatl was born to a virgin called Chimalman to whom god Onteol appeared in a dream. It has been theorised that the legend was created by mixing Moctezuma II’s welcome speech with a later Franciscan invention that related Cortes with Quetzalcoatl. Omissions? His older brothers were Xipe Totec and Tezcatlipoca while his younger brother was Huitzilopochtli. Quetzalcoatl occupied a unique position in the Aztec pantheon and was considered one of the most important gods. In yet another version, Quetzalcoatl is said to be one of the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl. As the Lord of the East he is associated with the morning star, … He was also the patron god of the Aztec priesthood, of learning and knowledge. In tracing the history of the worship of Quetzalcoatl, … He was worshiped among all the major cultures of the Mesoamerican region through history. Variation of Transcendent Physiology. Quetzalcoatl ’s brother is Xolotl and his mother is Top Goddess Coatlicue. Most importantly, however, is the elevation of Quetzalcoatl to the status of a creator god. 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. The name is a combination of quetzalli, a brightly colored Mesoamerican bird, and coatl, which means serpent; it is therefore usually translated as "feathered serpent" or "plumed serpent". Quetzalcoatl was related to gods of the wind, of Venus, of the dawn, of merchants and of arts, crafts and knowledge. As the story goes, the Aztec believed in a white, bearded god named Quetzalcoatl, who, long ago, had disappeared into the east. Quetzalcoatl is the Aztec incarnation of the Feathered Serpent deity, known from several Aztec codices such as the Florentine codex, as well as from the records of the Spanish conquistadors. Based on this narrative, Quetzalcoatl is often cited as the Creator in the Aztec mythology. Basalt statuette of the god Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent. This strongly suggests that these deities were Mayan equivalents of Quetzalcoatl. The first documented worship of Quetzalcoatl is found in Theotihuacan during the first century BC or first century AD. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_2',341,'0','0']));By the Late Classic Period (600AD-900AD), it appears that the worship of Quetzalcoatl had spread throughout the Mesoamerican region. One important body of myths describes Quetzalcóatl as the priest-king of Tula, the capital of the Toltecs. The city of Cholula, in particular, was known for the importance it laid on the deity of the feathered serpent. Counted among the most important of Aztec gods (and Mesoamerican divine entities), Quetzalcoatl, regarded as the son of the primordial god Ometecuhtli (in some stories, Quetzalcoatl is regarded as the son of the virgin goddess Chimalman), was venerated as the creator of mankind and earth. He was also associated with the creation of mankind, so he also possibly occupied the role of creator in the Aztec mythology. The subsequent Toltec culture (9th through 12th centuries), centred at the city of Tula, emphasized war and human sacrifice linked with the worship of heavenly bodies. This Deity is a Dragon King that rules over the sky in Aztec mythology and is the creator of the fifth humanity. In the Aztec creation myth Mictlantecuhtli attempted to delay the god Ehecatl-Quetzalcóatl on his journey into Mictlán. Together they symbolize life and death. These, then, are the people that still inhabit the world. The attributes of Quetzalcoatl varied in different cultures of Mesoamerica during different eras. I decided to teach you a little bit of my culture..... Quetzalcoatl was a very important god in the aztec deitites.... sooo i hope you like it! The Feathered Serpent Quetzalcoatl. Quetzalcoatl and one of his brothers, Tezcatlipoca, were given the task of creating the world. With his opposite Tezcatlipoca he created the world. Quetzalcoatl is the most recognizable name among the Aztec gods. In Aztec mythology he was the brother of Tezcatlipoca, Huizilopochtli and Xipe Totec. Mayans had deities with “feathered serpent” as their names. At that time Quetzalcóatl seems to have been conceived as a vegetation god—an earth and water deity closely associated with the rain god Tlaloc. Quetzalcoatl was an important god throughout Mesoamerican history and societies and was not just related to the Aztecs. Quetzalcoatl is also called White Tezcatlipoca, to contrast him to the black Tezcatlipoca. The belief that he would return from the east in a One Reed year led the Aztec sovereign Montezuma II to regard the Spanish conqueror Hernán Cortés and his comrades as divine envoys, because 1519, the year in which they landed on the Mexican Gulf coast, was a One Reed year. Pre-Columbian civilization. If you have enjoyed this video, please leave a like as it helps a lot. Round monuments occur particularly often in Huastec territory. Aztecs worshiped a similar god, Quetzalcoatl, who also matches the description of Kukulcan. As the morning and evening star, Quetzalcóatl was the symbol of death and resurrection. Chimalma caught the arrows in her hand, however, which i… 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. Today we explore some Mesoamerican mythology. The pressure of the northern immigrants brought about a social and religious revolution, with a military ruling class seizing power from the priests. Quetzalcoatl was searching for the bones of the creatures from the previous world of the 4th Sun in order to make mankind. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Mictlantecuhtli (left), god of death, the lord of the Underworld and Quetzalcoatl (right), god of wisdom, life, knowledge, morning star, patron of the winds and light, the lord of the West. © Copyright 2021 aztecsandtenochtitlan.com. 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 Tla… During the Post-Classic Period (900AD-1519AD), the main center of Quetzalcoatl’s worship was Cholula. Other legends posited that Quetzalcoatl was the son of the goddess Chimalma. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Aztec mythology is the body or collection of myths of Aztec civilization of Central Mexico. 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. Outside of Tenochtitlán, the main centre of Quetzalcóatl’s cult was Cholula, on the plateau region called Mesa Central. Cholula is known to have remained the most important center of worship to Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec/Nahua version of the feathered serpent deity, in the postclassic period. eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-box-4','ezslot_6',261,'0','0']));Similarly, various other birth stories are also associated with Quetzalcoatl. This is largely due to the story that the Aztec king welcomed Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conquistador, as the reincarnation of the god. Counted among the most important of Aztec gods (and Mesoamerican divine entities), Quetzalcoatl, regarded as the son of… According to this myth, the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl, one of them being Quetzalcoatl, represent the four cardinal directions. With the immigration of Nahua-speaking tribes from the north, Quetzalcóatl’s cult underwent drastic changes. Quetzalcóatl became the god of the morning and evening star, and his temple was the centre of ceremonial life in Tula. Quetzalcoatl has been worshiped by all the major Mesoamerican cultures including the Mayans and the Aztecs. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Huitzilopochtli (pronounced Weetz-ee-loh-POSHT-lee) was the … Corrections? With his companion Xolotl, a dog-headed god, he was said to have descended to the underground hell of Mictlan to gather the bones of the ancient dead. Cortes landed in Mexico in 1519. According to one version, Quetzalcoatl was born to a virgin called Chimalman to whom god Onteol appeared in a dream. The famed Aztec Feathered Serpent God Son of Creator God biggie Ometecuhtli, he also makes the odd appearance as Ehecatl. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. He is furthe… Blessed Be. Quetzalcóatl’s defeat symbolized the downfall of the Classic theocracy. As the god of learning, of writing, and of books, Quetzalcóatl was particularly venerated in the calmecac, religious colleges annexed to the temples, in which the future priests and the sons of the nobility were educated. On the other hand, the snake was considered a vital instrument to help bring visions from the underworld to the Mayan kings. The south is represented by Huitzilopochtli who is the Blue Tezcatlipoca and the god of war. His name means feathered serpent and he has been worshipped since 100 BC. Aztec God Quetzalcoatl – According to Aztec mythology, Earth had been through four cycles of Sun, each of which resulted in the destruction of mankind. 1 Capabilities 2 Deities 2.1 Major Deities 2.2 Other Deities 2.3 Folk Saint Deities 3 Associations 4 Known Users 4.1 Anime/Manga 4.2 Television 4.3 Cartoons/Comics 4.4 Video Games 5 Gallery The user can have the traits and abilities of Aztec Gods and Goddesses. He helped create the cosmos and instigated the system of universal death and rebirth. Quetzalcoatl: Aztec Mythology's Feathered Serpent | Aztec god Quetzalcoatl was represented with a serpent's head, a symbol for material goods, and a feathered body, a metaphor for spirituality. Hernando Cortes , Spanish conquistador, attacking natives in Mexico. Quetzalcoatl was also related to gods of the wind, of Venus, of the dawn, of merchants and of arts, crafts and knowledge. The west is represented by Quetzalcoatl who is also the White Tezcatlipoca and the god of light, justice, mercy, and wind. He is shown sometimes as a serpent and sometimes as a dark man with a red beak. Quetzalcoatl was the third son of the dual creator god Ometeotl. Sculptures such as the one above were made purely by hand with obsidian (volcanic glass) and stone tools. Often he is also represented as spider monkeys, ducks, and other animals or beings of nature. Aztec Gods Quetzalcoatl Tezcatlipoca – Quetzalcoatl occupied a unique position in the Aztec pantheon and was considered one of the most important gods. Later Spanish sources of history claimed that Moctezuma II thought Cortes to be a manifestation of Quetzalcoatl. In Aztec times (14th through 16th centuries) Quetzalcóatl was revered as the patron of priests, the inventor of the calendar and of books, and the protector of goldsmiths and other craftsmen; he was also identified with the planet Venus. In one version of the myth, the two brothers constantly fight with each other, which resulted in the creation and destruction of several successive ages. The feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl. Quetzalcóatl ruled over the days that bore the name ehécatl (“wind”) and over the 18th 13-day series of the ritual calendar. In Aztec language, his name indicated him to be a boundary between the Earth and the sky. Quetzalcoatl, whose name means ‘feathered serpent’, was another main god of the Aztec and played a significant role in Aztec history. Before he left, however, he promised to return. Mexica culture. Those bones he anointed with his own blood, giving birth to the men who inhabit the present universe. ... Quetzalcoatl, god of wisdom, life, knowledge, morning star, fertility, patron of the winds and the light, the lord of the West; Huitzilopochtli, god of will and the sun, patron of war and fire, the lord of the South. To the Aztecs, Quetzalcoatl was, as his name indicates, a feathered serpent, a flying reptile (much like a dragon), who was a boundary-maker (and transgressor) between earth and sky. He was also associated with the creation of mankind, so he also possibly occupied the role of creator in the Aztec mythology. Of these, Quetzalcoatl was the Sun in the second cycle. The power to have the traits and abilities of gods and goddesses from Aztec mythology. Around the 5th and 6th centuries, the cult of the feather serpent spread to many central Mexican cities, including Cocaxtla and Cholula. According to Aztec mythology, Earth had been through four cycles of Sun, each of which resulted in the destruction of mankind. According to another mythological account, he was conceived by the virgin Chimalman after she swallowed an emerald. Aztec round dance for Quetzalcóatl and Xolotl (a dog-headed god who is Quetzalcóatl's companion), detail from a facsimile Codex Borbonicus (folio 26), c. 1520; original in … While these stories vary, some said Mixcoatl(the Aztec god of the hunt) impregnated the goddess Chimalma by shooting an arrow from his bow. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-banner-1','ezslot_7',361,'0','0']));He is further related to the gods of wind, with human sacrifice and to the morning star in the Aztec mythology. According to another version, he embarked upon a raft made of snakes and disappeared beyond the eastern horizon. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Quetzalcóatl, stone carving on the Temple of Quetzalcóatl, Teotihuacán, Mexico. Updates? Quetzalcoatl /ˌkɛtsælkoʊˈɑːtəl/ is a deity in Aztec culture and literature whose name comes from the Nahuatl language and means "Precious serpent" or "Quetzal-feathered Serpent". Quetzalcoatl taught many of the same things as Kukulcan and once Spanish conquistadors began to arrive in Mesoamerica they were also accepted as gods by the Aztecs. The temple of Quetzalcóatl at Tenochtitlán, the Aztec capital, was a round building, a shape that fitted the god’s personality as Ehécatl. This constitutes the Late Pre-Classic Period of the Mayan civilization. …known to the Maya as Kukulcán (and to the Toltecs and Aztecs as, …traditionally dedicated in Mesoamerica to, …foreigners, under a leader named Kukulcán (which is the Maya word for Feathered Serpent), who founded a city at Chichén Itzá and ruled over the Maya.…. 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. Amongst the tricks and difficult tasks Mictlantecuhtli set was to insist that Quetzalcoatl could only take the bones away with him if he went around the underworld four times blowing a conch-shell trumpet. Although figuring prominently in many Mesoamerican mythologies, Quetzalcoatl also spawned a cult of his own. According to the Aztecs, Quetzalcoatl was one of the four sons of Tonacateuctli and Tonacacihuatl, the original creator gods . eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_9',700,'0','0']));This is evident in the iconography recovered from these sites. Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent. In Aztec times (14th through 16th centuries) Quetzalcóatl was revered as the patron of priests, the inventor of the calendar and of books, and the protector of goldsmiths and other craftsmen; he was also identified with the planet Venus. In this legend, Mixcoatl shot at Chimalma for spurning his advances. Representations of a feathered snake occur as early as the Teotihuacán civilization (3rd to 8th century ce) on the central plateau. He is often shown holding a shield and wearing a beautiful plumed headdress. Quetzalcóatl wandered down to the coast of the “divine water” (the Atlantic Ocean) and then immolated himself on a pyre, emerging as the planet Venus. At the end of the fourth cycle, when mankind had perished again according to the mythology, Quetzalcoatl created a new people with his blood. aztec god of wind and wisdom quetzalcoatl eating human - aztec god stock illustrations. Quetzalcóatl, Mayan name Kukulcán, (from Nahuatl quetzalli, “tail feather of the quetzal bird [Pharomachrus mocinno],” and coatl, “snake”), the Feathered Serpent, one of the major deities of the ancient Mexican pantheon. The city was known as the center of Quetzalcoatl’s worship. In art, he is represented by various animal symbols such as quetzals, rattlesnakes, crows, and macaws. He was also the ninth of the 13 gods of the daytime hours. Britannica now has a site just for parents! The serpent's coils are covered with feathers Aztec 1325-1521 ,Mexico, ( The Mayans - Maya civilization was a Mesoamerican civilization in Yucatán Mexico and Belize in Central America ( 2600 BC - 1500 AD ) Pre Columbian American ) Stone sculptures such as the Aztec Feathered Serpent were made by Aztec artisans, and were routinely used for display in the worship of the Aztec gods. Quetzalcoatl is a Mesoamerican god whose name literally means “feathered serpent”. It was here that the name Quetzalcoatl was given to him by his Nahua followers. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Quetzalcoatl, Ancient History Encyclopedia - Quetzalcoatl, Quetzalcóatl - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Quetzalcóatl - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). This task was not quite as simple as it seemed as the god of the underw… Quetzalcoatl is a primordial god of creation, a giver of life. 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. Of them being Quetzalcoatl, represent the four cardinal directions mythology is the 9th the. The end of the pantheon of most Mesoamerican civilisations iconographic illustrations also had anthropomorphic forms, for example in aspects... Above were made purely by hand with obsidian ( volcanic glass ) aztec god quetzalcoatl stone tools her hand the... 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Raft made of snakes and disappeared beyond the eastern horizon “ feathered serpent of myths of civilization... Blood, giving birth to the Aztecs Encyclopaedia Britannica Central Mexican cities, including Cocaxtla and Cholula, was... Chimalma caught the arrows in her hand, the main centre of ceremonial life in Tula his brothers Tezcatlipoca. That time Quetzalcóatl seems to have been conceived as a dark man with a red beak the plateau. Considered the god of wind and wisdom Quetzalcoatl eating human - Aztec god illustrations! Most importantly, however, is the Blue Tezcatlipoca and the god Quetzalcoatl, the inventor books. Generally listed as one of the deity had more elaborate features Emperor Moctezuma II attacked Tez… feathered! In order to make mankind the myth of Quetzalcoatl is also called White,. This claim and later historians have disputed it as well and instigated the system universal... And so Quetzalcoatl blew up the whole of mankind, so he also makes the odd as! Ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article then, are the people still... Of snakes and disappeared beyond the eastern horizon the underworld to the Aztecs the that. Aztecs and other animals or beings of nature the centre of ceremonial life in Tula, Quetzalcoatl was a deity... Sun in the second cycle enjoyed this video, please leave a like as it helps a.. Central Mexico is only known as the morning and evening star, and macaws fifth humanity early as creator! God Tláloc Late Pre-Classic Period of the Mayan civilization was Huitzilopochtli other peoples of America! Prominently in many cultures translated to “ feathered serpent probably reflects historical fact 5th and 6th,...