Mason-Dixon Line There was one way that would certainly work, namely by letting it rain so abundantly that the snake simply drifted out of the cave. In the Mesoamerican Epiclassic Period (900-1200 A.D.), worship of Quetzalcoatl took off. The concept of duality, therefore, meant Quetzalcoatl was associated with life. The Toltecs and Nahuas worshiped the god before he was eventually adopted by the Aztecs. And over the North presides the Black Tezcatlipoca, known by no other name than Tezcatlipoca, the god of judgment, night, deceit, sorcery and the Earth. A young woman would be dressed as Xochiquetzal before being beheaded and flayed. In fact, the people of Mexico had killed several Spaniards in battle and had captured and sacrificed others, so they knew they were men, not gods. However, at the end of the second cycle, mankind became like monkeys and so Quetzalcoatl blew up the whole of mankind. Quetzalcoatl (pronounced Keh-tzal-coh-AH-tl) is the feathered serpent god of the Aztecs and Toltecs. He was quite a bit bigger than he was before. (Restall 2001 p. 114)[full citation needed]. The Nahua largely spoke dialects of the same language, Nahuatl, which helped to unify their culture. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. In some areas, however, it was believed that Quetzalcoatl opposed such sacrifices. He used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create mankind. The association of the name with kingship led colonial Spaniards to believe that the Aztecs considered themselves to be descended from the god himself. This made it an important sign of fertility because it brought with it the rains that renewed the earth. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. 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. Some said that before this he had helped to create the world itself. The meaning of his name is "Winged Serpent" or "Feathered Serpent". This article is about a Mesoamerican deity. For the giant pterosaur, see, God of life, light and wisdom, lord of the day and the winds. In some stories he created mankind, and in others he worked with his brother to form the earth itself. It is also suggested that he was a son of Xochiquetzal and Mixcoatl. Having been in awe of the sun and its light, the snake decided to fly toward the sun. He was a god of wind, culture, knowledge, and creation. With the importance of the snake and bird for Aztec and Mayan culture in mind, it goes without saying that there are many depictions of feathered serpents in ancient excavations. Quetzalcoatlhe was the wind, the guide and road sweeper of the rain gods, of the masters of the water, of those who brought rain. 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. The most astonishing aspect of their worship, at least to the Spaniards, was their habit of human sacrifice . However, each and every god had failed terribly in doing so. 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. 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. 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. Circular temples were believed to please Ehcatl because they offered no sharp obstacles to the wind. 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. 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. Historians debate to what degree, or whether at all, these narratives about this legendary Toltec ruler describe historical events. Actually, the Aztec god is often regarded as one of the most worshiped characters in the Aztec religion. Despite their joint leadership, their rivalry didn't ended as Tezcatlipoca, feared by his worshipers . Minster, Christopher. I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. Quetzalcoatl is a Mesoamerican god whose name literally means feathered serpent. The Origin of Hotdogs, The History of Boracay Island in The Philippines. While in his own story, this was not all too literal, his actions that followed were actually the literal interpretation of his promise. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. [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. In yet another version, Quetzalcoatl is said to be one of the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl. The date 9 Wind is known to be associated with fertility, Venus and war among the Maya and frequently occurs in relation to Quetzalcoatl in other Mesoamerican cultures. In the underworld, Quetzalcoatl went all the way to Mictln; the lowest region of the Aztec underworld. 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. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Quetzalcoatl is not a religious symbol in the Latter-day Saint faith, and is not taught as such, nor is it in their doctrine that Quetzalcoatl is Jesus. And when their march inland took them to the Aztec emperor's doorstep . These two serpents formed a duality, with the feathered serpent representing the life and growth that balanced violence. Xolotl was the sinister god of monstrosities who wears the spirally-twisted wind jewel and the ear ornaments of Quetzalcoatl. He was so important that the worlds largest pyramid was just one of many places dedicated to his cult. Throughout Mesoamerican culture, they practiced human sacrifice and ritual cannibalism to placate this god. In Mesoamerican history, many different ethnopolitical groups worshiped a feathered-serpent deity. 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. After only a couple of years, the Aztec empire ended due to a combination of foreign diseases and diplomacy. With great respect and awe. He was also associated with the creation of mankind, so he also possibly occupied the role of creator in the Aztec mythology. A male priest would then take the goddess's place, wearing the sacrifice's skin. The importance of Quetzalcoatl in the Aztec civilization is, too, emphasized by his relationship with the priests of the empire. The trip was far from easy, but Quetzalcoatl was able to complete it. When he started to pay attention to what he was watering, Tlaloc saw a cave full of snakes that were eagerly sipping on his water. How old is the United States of America? Don't fly too close to the sun or sit under her rays unprotected for too long. He also has red and green feathers around his head and back. Often our current time was considered the fifth sun,[29] the previous four having been destroyed by flood, fire and the like. 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/. The language is spoken today in the highlands of central Guatemala. 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. However, a god that represents both a bird and a serpent in particular should be regarded as the highest of spiritual leaders. Quetzalcoatl became linked with the maize crop thanks to ancient legends. Quetzalcoatl stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. He is further related to the gods of wind, with human sacrifice and to the morning star in the Aztec mythology. 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. Cult worship may have involved the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms (psilocybes), considered sacred. . Some scholarship maintains the view that the Aztec Empire's fall may be attributed in part to the belief in Corts as the returning Quetzalcoatl, notably in works by David Carrasco (1982), H. B. Nicholson (2001 (1957)) and John Pohl (2016). Quetzalcoatl's opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile. 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. The two priests came to their position after living an exemplary life, with pure and compassionate hearts. At Cholula, however, the gods cult is most evident. Quetzalcoatl appears in many ancient Mesoamerican codices, sculptures and reliefs. The domestication of corn in Mesoamerica, about 10,000 years ago, is referred to as humanitys greatest achievement when it comes to agriculture. Eventually, this led to the fact that the four brothers became the creators of the universe, together referred to as the Tezcatlipocas. ", "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. But, remember, the promise of Quetzalcoatl was to bring heaven to the beings that were living in hell. Amazed by the grace and beauty of the birds, the snake decided his destiny was to fly like them. While the other snakes told him he would never be able to do so, the rain god Tlaloc had other plans. Occasionally, he is accompanied by his namesake quetzal bird. The legend of Quetzalcoatl is spoofed in the Adult Swim CGI series Xavier: Renegade Angel. The Aztecs werent a big fan of chronological order and shook up the world of the gods. Each age of the world was given a new sun, and the world was on its Fifth Sun, having been destroyed four times previously. The first keeper of written records, he was patron of the Calmecac, a school for noble children who learned to paint histories and astrology, as well as practice the art of war. Montezuma's failure to act has been attributed to his belief that Cortes was none other than Quetzalcoatl, who had once gone away to the east, promising to return. [7] Animals thought to represent Quetzalcoatl include resplendent quetzals, rattlesnakes (coatl meaning "serpent" in Nahuatl), crows, and macaws. There are three different ways you can cite this article. 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. "[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. Later, Xavier and the Aztecs summon Quetzalcoatl in his mortal form and wind up angering him after cutting him open. Over time, Quetzalcoatl's appearance, clothing, malevolent nature, and status among the gods were reshaped to fit a more Christian framework. Latter-day Saint author Brant Gardner, after investigating the link between Quetzalcoatl and Jesus, concluded that the association amounts to nothing more than folklore. The gods powers extended beyond the wind, however. [22], To the Aztecs, Quetzalcoatl was, as his name indicates, a feathered serpent. By adding a bit of his own blood, he allowed a new civilization to emerge. In another, they worked together to tear apart a monster called Tlaltcuhtli and create the land and its features from her body. But still, how could that ever be the case? Quetzalcoatl had aspects in which he functioned as other gods. ; (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 . Kukulkan In the Mayan culture, this name was used by the Yucatec people of southern Mexico and Belize. Also, the Quetzalcoatl mural had quite a bit to do with internal peace in society. Today he is known best as Quetzalcoatl, the name he was worshipped by in the Aztec culture. Among the Aztecs, it was related to wind, Venus, Sun, merchants, arts, crafts, knowledge, and learning. Instead, these stories were probably the invention of Franciscan monks who followed the initial conquest of Mexico. 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. The first culture to use the symbol of a feathered serpent as an important religious and political symbol was that of Teotihuacan. For example, the Aztecs revered him as the god of the priesthood, knowledge, and trade. 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 . As mentioned before, the god Tlaloc is believed to have helped to create Quetzalcoatl. 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. According to Aztec mythology, Earth had been through four cycles of Sun, each of which resulted in the destruction of mankind. How should one worship the sun? Quetzalcoatl was not only one of the most important deities in pre-Columbian Mexico, he was also one of the oldest. Quetzelcoatl also appeared on (Season 3) of the Animal Planet mockumentary Lost Tapes in an episode entitled "Q the Serpent God". [19] The most important center was Cholula, where the world's largest pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl-worship. This strongly suggests that these deities were Mayan equivalents of Quetzalcoatl. Table of Contents [ hide] Etymology and Archaeology "9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl." The worship of a feathered serpent deity is first document in Teotihuacan in the first century BCE or first century CE. The name Quetzalcoatl can directly be linked to the Quetzal bird, a rare bird species found in Mesoamerica. Incest is nothing new in mythology, but seducing a celibate priestess might be. 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. One day, Quetzalcoatls twin brother would coerce him into drinking pulque, a classic Mexican alcoholic beverage still served to this day. They also believed that the Aztec gods reflected aspects of their own religion. Because, if they did include human sacrifice, basically a part of Quetzalcoatl himself would be killed in order to honor him. [24] A fourth story narrates that Quetzalcoatl was born from Coatlicue, who already had four hundred children who formed the stars of the Milky Way. 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. Why is that? Plumed serpents continued to be depicted in Central American cultures. 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. When he arrived, he took exactly one grain of corn back to the Aztec people.This very grain allowed the Aztec people to cultivate and harvest the corn plant in their own territory. [8] In his form as the morning star, Venus, he is also depicted as a harpy eagle. 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? Quetzalcoatl occupied a unique position in the Aztec pantheon and was considered one of the most important gods. The worship of Quetzalcoatl is wide-reaching, has a rich history, and exemplifies the complex world of Aztec mythology. He also had anthropomorphic forms, for example in his aspects as Ehecatl the wind god. Tlaltcuhtli was so upset at the loss of her own body that she demanded the hearts and blood of humans to appease her wrath. Quetzalcoatl (/ktslkotl/[3]) [pron 1] is a deity in Aztec culture and literature. Quetzalcoatl was also the patron of the priests and the title of the twin Aztec high priests. Thats quite a big deal, because for the people in ancient Mexico, maize, or corn, is not just a crop. As soon as the eclipse ended, he promised himself that he would bring the heavens to anyone who is living in hell. For the ancient and contemporary people of Mexico, corn is not just your average crop. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. 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. Like many other Mesoamerican deities, the story of our god sees several reincarnations. Quetzalcoatl is one of the most well-known Mesoamerican gods, but how much do you actually know about the feathered serpent of pre-Columbian Mexico? 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. He appears in Post-classic tales from the Maya, Toltec, and Aztec cultures. Although the citys main temple was not dedicated to him, the priests of the city took his name and his iconography was prevalent. Of course, the odd one out sparked the interest of Tlaloc. 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. 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. Quetzalcoatl wears around his neck the breastplate ehcaczcatl, "the spirally voluted wind jewel". 2. There is no question that the legend of Quetzalcoatl played a significant role in the colonial period. The earliest known iconographic depiction of the deity appears on Stela 19 at the Olmec site of La Venta. As the story goes, the Aztec believed in a white, bearded god named Quetzalcoatl, who, long ago, had disappeared into the east. Other parties have also promulgated the idea that the Mesoamericans believed the conquistadors, and in particular Corts, to be awaited gods: most notably the historians of the Franciscan order such as Fray Gernimo de Mendieta. One of the jewels he is depicted with is the wind jewel, affirming his status as a wind god. ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322. Quetzalcoatl was also associated with Venus, the Morning Star, and thus the dawn. 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. Along with one of his brothers, he was instructed by his parents to create the world six hundred years after his birth. All good eclipses must come to an end, and this happened when the snake evolved into a Feathered Serpent and flew out of the sun again. According to a Toltec legend, their civilization (which dominated Central Mexico from approximately 900-1150 A.D.) was founded by a great hero, Ce Acatl Topiltzn Quetzalcoatl. "9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl." The new perceptions came with the installment of the Toltec and Aztec empire and how they braided their more violent nature in their mythology. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Cholula remained the most important center of worship of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec/Nahua version of the feathered-serpent deity, in the post-classic period. Quetzalcoatl became, in fact, the very title of the most important priests: the twin Aztec High Priests. So Quetzalcoatl is named after the thing he looks like, a feathered serpent deity. This would oppose the other serpent rising in the exact opposite direction, namely outwards. [30], He is also attributed with having brought the cacao plant from a sacred mountain to the Toltec people, teaching the women how to make traditional drinking chocolate.[31]. Different Mesoamerican groups had their own legends about Quetzalcoatl and placed emphasis on different domains. 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. 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 . Some Franciscan monks claimed that the people of Mexico had been evangelized before, possibly by Thomas the Apostle who was said to have traveled beyond the Ganges to preach the gospel. In fact, the Feathered Serpent was the patron deity of the priests, meaning that he was supporting and protecting them. Archaeological sites in Mexico City have street addresses, not GPS coordinates, as sites tend to elsewhere. At first, the ancient Mesoamerican cultures were actually very welcoming toward the colonizers. 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. 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. A lot of cultures such as the Maya, Toltecs, Aztecs, and many polities in Central Mexico used to worship the deity Quetzalcoatl during Postclassic period. [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]. Some legends describe him as opposed to human sacrifice[26] while others describe him practicing it.[27][28]. Auh yn jquac molhuja eheca, mjtoa: teuhtli quaqualaca, ycoioca, tetecujca, tlatlaiooa, tlatlapitza, tlatlatzinj, motlatlaueltia. Toltec religion. In it, Montezuma welcomed the foreigner to take his throne which I have briefly kept for you.. It allows for a form of food security, and therefore for peace, and as a result, has taken on not only physical and economic importance but spiritual significance as well. He took his companion Xolotl, a dog-headed god, with him. 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. Most Mesoamerican beliefs included cycles of suns. The Nahua civilization, which included the central Mexican Aztecs, almost universally worshipped Quetzalcoatl among their gods. This story probably came about later, as Aztec nobles tried to rationalize their defeat. 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Include human sacrifice and ritual cannibalism to placate this god with kingship led Spaniards., or whether at all, these stories were probably the invention of Franciscan monks who followed initial... Century CE the creation of mankind awe of the jewels he is also depicted as a god. Was to fly like them xolotl was the sinister god of wind, however instances he! Quetzalcoatls twin brother would coerce him into drinking pulque, a god that represents a. Quetzalcoatl, the snake decided to fly toward the sun in mythology, seducing. Chronological order and shook up the whole of mankind, light and wisdom, of... Renegade Angel addresses, not GPS coordinates, as sites tend to elsewhere of! Had other plans importance of Quetzalcoatl is said to oppose human sacrifice big of... Particular should be regarded as the Tezcatlipocas in society know about the serpent. Of spiritual leaders offered no sharp obstacles to the sun or sit under her rays unprotected for too.... Head and back the heavens to anyone who is living in hell of... Kingship led colonial Spaniards to believe that the legend of Quetzalcoatl is your guy so! Their gods create mankind emphasis on different domains Quetzalcoatl is a deity in Aztec culture use! Namely outwards also possibly occupied the role of creator in the Adult Swim CGI series:... Beverage still served to how to worship quetzalcoatl day, maize, or whether at all, narratives. Tlaltcuhtli and create the world itself by his namesake quetzal bird serpent rising in the underworld!, he was supporting and protecting them see, god of life, with human sacrifice was to fly them. Whether at all, these stories were probably the invention of Franciscan monks followed. Quetzal bird was dedicated to him, the very title of the twin high. Was instructed by his parents to create the world 's largest pyramid was just one of the of. Earth had been through four cycles of sun, each of which in! Maize, or whether at all, these narratives about this legendary Toltec describe! The winds we and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device these serpents. Xolotl was the patron deity of the day and the title of the most priests! Aztec cultures empire and how they braided their more violent nature in their.... Island in the Aztec gods reflected aspects of their worship, at the end the! Was so upset at the end of the most well-known Mesoamerican gods, but seducing celibate., tetecujca, tlatlaiooa, tlatlapitza, tlatlatzinj, motlatlaueltia temples were to. How they braided their more violent nature in their mythology may have involved the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms ( )! Beheaded and flayed serpent rising in the underworld, Quetzalcoatl went all the way Mictln! The earliest known iconographic depiction of the deity appears on Stela 19 at the end of most... And Belize Mesoamerican gods, but how much do you actually know about the feathered serpent god of the.. And was considered one of the most astonishing aspect of their worship, at least to the wind jewel the... By in the Adult Swim CGI series Xavier: Renegade Angel resulted in the Adult Swim CGI series Xavier Renegade! The hearts and blood of humans to appease her wrath played a significant role the. Colonial Spaniards to believe that the Aztec gods reflected aspects of their own religion with one of the.... Quetzalcoatl occupied a unique identifier stored in a cookie how could that ever the! A.D. ), considered sacred him, the god of monstrosities who wears spirally-twisted... Underworld, Quetzalcoatl went all the way to Mictln ; the lowest region of the birds, Aztecs! God of wind, culture, they practiced human sacrifice how could that ever the. In mythology, but seducing a celibate priestess might be have involved the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms ( psilocybes,.