Starting with his creation, there are many versions of how Quetzalcoatl came to be. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. As a just god, he was opposed to human sacrifice, but some accounts contradict this. [11] Quetzalcoatl was one of several important gods in the Aztec pantheon, along with the gods Tlaloc, Tezcatlipoca and Huitzilopochtli. Much of the idea of Cortés being seen as a deity can be traced back to the Florentine Codex written down some 50 years after the conquest. The pyramid of Quetzalcoatl (god of the 'feathered serpent') is showing the alternating 'Tlaloc' (left, with goggle eyes, a god of rain, fertility, and water) and feathered serpent (right, with a collar of feathers) heads. Chimalma caught the arrows in her hand, however, which i… 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. 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. He was regarded as the god of winds and rain and as the creator of the world and mankind. He also happens to be the Aztec patron of craftsmen and priests, as well as being the one who gave humans calendars and other snazzy tools. His names outside the Aztec cultural area include Kukulcán, Gucumatz and Votan. He helped create the cosmos and instigated the system of universal death and rebirth. The temple of Quetzalcóatl at Tenochtitlán, the Aztec capital, was a round building, a shape that fitted the god’s personality as Ehécatl. They were like the Greeks and Romans to the Egyptians. Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec god of wind, air, and learning, wears around his neck the "wind breastplate" ehēcacōzcatl, "the spirally voluted wind jewel" made of a conch shell. [23] Quetzalcoatl was often considered the god of the morning star, and his twin brother Xolotl was the evening star (Venus). Tezcatlipoca’s brother Quetzalcoatl was the god of winds and rain, intelligence and self-reflection. 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. 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. A feathered serpent deity has been worshipped by many different ethno-political groups in Mesoamerican history. Quetzalcóatl’s calendar name was Ce Acatl (One Reed). Tezcatlipoca’s cult was brought to central Mexico by the Toltecs, Nahua-speaking warriors from the north, about the end of the 10th century ad. You have graciously arrived, you have known pain, you have known weariness, now come on earth, take your rest, enter into your palace, rest your limbs; may our lords come on earth. He is the god intelligence and self-reflection, a patron of priests. "[4], The earliest known documentation of the worship of a Feathered Serpent occurs in Teotihuacan in the first century BC or first century AD. [5] That period lies within the Late Preclassic to Early Classic period (400 BC – 600 AD) of Mesoamerican chronology; veneration of the figure appears to have spread throughout Mesoamerica by the Late Classic period (600–900 AD).[6]. The legend of Quetzalcoatl is spoofed in the Adult Swim CGI series Xavier: Renegade Angel. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. While these stories vary, some said Mixcoatl(the Aztec god of the hunt) impregnated the goddess Chimalma by shooting an arrow from his bow. Aztec god Quetzalcoatl was represented with a serpent's head, a symbol for material goods, and a feathered body, a metaphor for spirituality. [18] Historian Enrique Florescano also analyzing Teotihuacan iconography argues that the Feathered Serpent was part of a triad of agricultural deities: the Goddess of the Cave symbolizing motherhood, reproduction and life, Tlaloc, god of rain, lightning and thunder and the feathered serpent, god of vegetational renewal. He never offered human victims, only snakes, birds, and butterflies. Quetzalcoatl was often considered the god of the morning star, and his twin brother Xolotl was the evening star (Venus). Quetzalcoatl was also the patr… Pre-Conquest stories describe how Quetzalcoatl was responsible for the creation and destruction of the world along with his sometime competitor Tezcatlipoca. QUETZALCOATL was one of the most powerful and multifaceted gods in Mesoamerican religions. [12] In his form as the morning star, Venus, he is also depicted as a harpy eagle. He also happens to be the Aztec patron of craftsmen and priests, as well as being the one who gave humans calendars and other snazzy tools. He was also known as Kukulkán to the Maya, Gucumatz to the Quiché of Guatemala, and Ehecatl to the … Killing a Quetzal was a crime punishable by death. He arrived in Tenochtitlan on November 8, 1519, where he was peacefully greeted by Emperor … Over the South presides the Blue Tezcatlipoca, Huitzilopochtli, the god of war. Over time, Quetzalcoatl's appearance, clothing, malevolent nature, and status among the gods were reshaped to fit a more Christian framework. He also had anthropomorphic forms, for example in his aspects as Ehecatl the wind god. Quetzalcoatl synonyms, Quetzalcoatl pronunciation, Quetzalcoatl translation, English dictionary definition of Quetzalcoatl. Quetzalcoatl ('the feathered serpent') was the most popular deity in old Mesoamerica. While not usually feathered, classic Maya serpent iconography seems related to the belief in a sky-, Venus-, creator-, war- and fertility-related serpent deity. Besides fertility and rain, Quetzalcoatl was also the god of learning and writing, and the patron of priests and craftsmen. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Quetzalcoatl is often associated with Ehecatl, the wind god, and represents the forces of nature, and is also associated with the morning star . A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - Known under a number of different names, Kukulkan, the Feathered Serpent was one of the most important gods in Mesoamerica. He was a supreme leader of the gods, depicted, just like Quetzalcoatl. In Xochicalco, depictions of the feathered serpent are accompanied by the image of a seated, armed ruler and the hieroglyph for the day sign 9 Wind. In another myth, the Aztec primordial god Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl executed Xolotl. 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. In Aztec Mexico, Quetzalcoatl was the patron god of the schools of higher learning, the calmecac s, and the model for the office of the high priesthood at the Templo Mayor in Tenochtitl á n, in front of which his round temple was apparently located. (Many academics conclude this passage implies incest.) Some followers of the Latter Day Saints movement believe that Quetzalcoatl was historically Jesus Christ, but believe his name and the details of the event were gradually lost over time. Other … In the post-classic Nahua civilization of central Mexico (Aztec), the worship of Quetzalcoatl was ubiquitous. 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 post-classic period. He was one of the most human-loving of the gods in the Aztec pantheon. [6] Feathered serpent iconography is prominent at all of these sites. Those bones he anointed with his own blood, giving birth to the men who inhabit the present universe. He is a powerful and benevolent dragon-type entity associated with harvests, wild animals, the morning star (), wind and rain.He is also a god of learning, reading, and books. They called him Kukulcán. But the god of the night sky, Tezcatlipoca, expelled him from Tula by performing feats of black magic. Some scholarship maintains the view that the Aztec Empire's fall may be attributed in part to the belief in Cortés as the returning Quetzalcoatl, notably in works by David Carrasco (1982), H. B. Nicholson (2001 (1957)) and John Pohl (2016). 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… Tezcatlipoca, (Nahuatl: “Smoking Mirror”) god of the Great Bear constellation and of the night sky, one of the major deities of the Aztec pantheon. 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. Quetzalcoatl was the third son of the dual creator god Ometeotl. The existence of such worship can be seen through studies of the iconography of different Mesoamerican cultures, in which serpent motifs are frequent. Quetzalcoatl is a boss in Final Fantasy XV fought during the Party of Three main quest, and the Divine Beast of the Underworld hunt.. Last year it ranked th in the U.S. Social Security Administration list of most popular baby girl names. Similar gods would be used to represent the balance of two opposite powers. The Aztecs just adopted the Mayan gods like Kulkulkan and renamed them. 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". ", "Method and Skepticism (and Quetzalcoatl...)", "Quetzalcoatl, the Maya maize god and Jesus Christ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Quetzalcoatl&oldid=1000762531, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia indefinitely move-protected pages, Articles having same image on Wikidata and Wikipedia, Articles containing Classical Nahuatl-language text, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from August 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2013, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2012, Articles with incomplete citations from April 2020, Articles with Spanish-language sources (es), Articles with Nahuatl languages-collective sources (nah), Wikipedia articles with PLWABN identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 16 January 2021, at 16:14. Quetzalcoatl was associated with the wind god Ehecatl and is often depicted with his insignia: a beak-like mask. Quetzalcoatl is a Mesoamerican deity whose name comes from the Nahuatl language and has the meaning of "feathered-serpent". 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). In Mormon circles, he is often identified with Jesus Christ.. The great Quetzalcoatl would since be remembered as the ruler and exemplary politician, civilizing hero, inventor of the calendar, discoverer of corn, master farmer, inventor of the art of casting metals, carver of precious stones, judge, lawyer, king of the Toltecs and a God who managed to unify the new world. It is also suggested that he was a son of Xochiquetzal and Mixcoatl. [20], 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. The K’iche’ group of Maya named him Gukumatz. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. The legend of the victory of Tezcatlipoca over the Feathered Serpent probably reflects historical fact. If you look up Quetzalcoatl, even Wikipedia will tell you he is an Aztec god. Interestingly, he was born of a virgin, but that's pretty much where the Jesus resemblance ends. He was also the ninth of the 13 gods of the daytime hours. Often our current time was considered the fifth sun,[citation needed] the previous four having been destroyed by flood, fire and the like. Quetzalcoatl is the "White bearded God" or the "Serpent God" from the legend of Quetzalcoatl of the ancient Aztecs. 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. Mesoamerican deities often functioned in duality. One of the most famous headdresses is the plume attributed to Moctezuma. He is also seen as the protector of butterflies and some researchers believe that this symbolizes resurrection. Over the East presides the Red Tezcatlipoca, Xipe Totec, the god of gold, farming and springtime. Quetzalcoatl – ‘The Feathered Serpent’ Quetzalcoatl statue at the Ciudadela complex in Teotihuacan (Credit: Jami Dwyer / CC). 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. He is often depicted as a feathered serpent. 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. Quetzalcoatl ’s brother is Xolotl and his mother is Top Goddess Coatlicue. In Mormon circles, he is often identified with Jesus Christ. Founding a functionally new religion, Quetzalcoatl taught (and exemplified) prayer and penance. Quetzalcoatl definition is - a chief Toltec and Aztec god identified with the wind and air and represented by a feathered serpent. As the morning star he was known by the title Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, meaning "lord of the star of the dawn." In the Postclassic period (900–1519 AD), the worship of the feathered-serpent deity centred in the primary Mexican religious center of Cholula. He was known as the inventor of books and the calendar, the giver of maize (corn) to mankind, and sometimes as a symbol of death and resurrection. Quetzalcoatl is the god of chocolate, which makes him far more benevolent than any other god could hope to be. [9] Furthermore, early Spanish sources written by clerics tend to identify the god-ruler Quetzalcoatl of these narratives with either Hernán Cortés or Thomas the Apostle—identifications which have also become sources of a diversity of opinions about the nature of Quetzalcoatl.[10]. 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". In Aztec culture, depictions of Quetzalcoatl were fully anthropomorphic. 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. 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. Represented as the plumed serpent, Quetzalcoatl was also manifest in the wind, one of the most powerful forces of nature, and this relationship was captured in a text in the Nahuatl language: Quetzalcoatl; yn ehecatl ynteiacancauh yntlachpancauh in tlaloque, yn aoaque, yn qujqujiauhti. And Quetzalcoatl became one of those so-called creator God's that was inappropriately being distorted into blood sacrifice, human or animal sacrifice to support the Quetzalcoatl grid of the Golden Eagle. Other parties have also promulgated the idea that the Mesoamericans believed the conquistadors, and in particular Cortés, to be awaited gods: most notably the historians of the Franciscan order such as Fray Gerónimo de Mendieta. The earliest iconographic depiction of the deity is believed to be found on Stela 19 at the Olmec site of La Venta, depicting a serpent rising up behind a person probably engaged in a shamanic ritual. They maintained a major pilgrimage and commercial center at Cholula, Puebla which the Spaniards compared to both Rome and Mecca because the cult of the god united its constituents through a field of common social, political, and religious values without dominating them militarily. God of the Month: Quetzalcoatl Get acquainted with the Mesoamerican deity, Quetzalcoatl, whose incredible powers saw him create universe, earth, sea and sky, as well as our distant human ancestors. [33] This speech, which has been widely referred to, has been a factor in the widespread belief that Moctezuma was addressing Cortés as the returning god Quetzalcoatl. 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. Quetzalcoatl challenged the “sacrificial logic” and militarism of ancient Mexican culture, by abolishing the entrenched practice of human sacrifice. This talisman was a conch shell cut at the cross-section and was likely worn as a necklace by religious rulers, as such objects have been discovered in burials in archaeological sites throughout Mesoamerica,[7] and potentially symbolized patterns witnessed in hurricanes, dust devils, seashells, and whirlpools, which were elemental forces that had significance in Aztec mythology. Quetzalcoatl is the "White bearded God" or the "Serpent God" from the legend of Quetzalcoatl of the ancient Aztecs. [20] 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. When Hernán Cortés learned about the wealthy Aztecs during his exploration trip, he set out to find them. He is an Aztec god, but the Aztecs were late in the game. This article is about a Mesoamerican deity. There are several stories about the birth of Quetzalcoatl. Lucoa is based off of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, who is normally depicted as being male. His older brothers were Xipe Totec and Tezcatlipoca while his younger brother was Huitzilopochtli. On the basis of the iconography of the feathered serpent deity at sites such as Teotihuacan, Xochicalco, Chichén Itzá, 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 the patron deity of the Urban center, a god of culture and civilization. [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. 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 Cortés (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. Quetzalcóatl became the god of the morning and evening star, and his temple was the centre of ceremonial life in Tula. In another story, the virgin Chimalman conceived Quetzalcoatl by swallowing an emerald. Quetzalcoatl was portrayed in two ways. Aztec god Quetzalcoatl was represented with a serpent's head, a symbol for material goods, and a feathered body, a metaphor for spirituality. Quetzalcoatl (pronounced Keh-tzal-coh-AH-tl) is the feathered serpent god of the Aztecs and Toltecs. 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. There are several stories about the birth of Quetzalcoatl. Historians debate to what degree, or whether at all, these narratives about this legendary Toltec ruler describe historical events. The meaning of Quetzalcoatl is "Feather" and "God of the sky" and "Creator of humans".Its origin is "Aztec".Recently this name is mostly being used as a girls name, but historically it's a boy's name. A third story narrates that Chimalman was hit in the womb by an arrow shot by Mixcoatland nine months later she gave birth to a c… His consciousness as Quetzalcoatl is an offshoot of the Seraphim lineage, which has a very deep history with human beings. As the morning star, he was known by the title Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, meaning "lord of the star of the dawn". 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. "[15], Quetzalcoatl was also linked to rulership and priestly office; additionally, among the Toltec, it was used as a military title and emblem.[16]. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership. Quetzalcóatl was an important god to the peoples of ancient mexico. [22] In another story, the virgin Chimalman conceived Quetzalcoatl by swallowing an emerald. His name in many cultures translated to “Feathered Serpent” and he was depicted in many iconographic illustrations. Some legends describe him as opposed to human sacrifice[24] while others describe him practicing it.[25][26]. The latter was acting as executioner, killing all of the rest of the gods as they sacrificed themselves as part of the creation of humanity. The pressure of the northern immigrants brought about a social and religious revolution, with a military ruling class seizing power from the priests. In the iconography of the classic period, Maya serpent imagery is also prevalent: a snake is often seen as the embodiment of the sky itself, and a vision serpent is a shamanic helper presenting Maya kings with visions of the underworld. Virtually all 16th-Century writers wrote about a white god called Quetzalcoatl (KATES-ALL-CO-OUGHT-ALL). The symbol of the serpent has long been associated with deities of Mexico and Guatemala. [22] A fourth story narrates that Quetzalcoatl was born from Coatlicue, who already had four hundred children who formed the stars of the Milky Way. Since the sixteenth century, it has been widely held that the Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II initially believed the landing of Hernán Cortés in 1519 to be Quetzalcoatl's return. Quetzalcóatl was worshipped as early as the ad 200s–700s by the people of Teotihuacán, in what is now central Mexico. After a slapstick-style chase scene, Xavier winds up as the Sun God and commits "sacricide" (sacrificial suicide), ending the skit. Historian Matthew Restall concludes that: The legend of the returning lords, originated during the Spanish-Mexica war in Cortés' reworking of Moctezuma's welcome speech, had by the 1550s merged with the Cortés-as-Quetzalcoatl legend that the Franciscans had started spreading in the 1530s. 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. Every school child in Mexico studies Quetzalcoatl and knows the importance of his role. In Central Mexico from 1200 CE he was also considered the patron god of priests and merchants and considered the god of learning, science, agriculture, crafts and the arts. In tracing the history of the worship of Quetzalcoatl, … Quetzal meant “bird” and coatl meant “snake,” so this snake-bird deity represented the link between sky and earth, between humanity and the stars. As the Lord of the East he is associated with the morning star, … [28][29][30][31][32] Most documents expounding this theory are of entirely Spanish origin, such as Cortés's letters to Charles V of Spain, in which Cortés goes to great pains to present the naive gullibility of the Aztecs in general as a great aid in his conquest of Mexico. Son of Creator God biggie Ometecuhtli, he also makes the odd appearance as Ehecatl. [38] 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. It appeared the Mesoamericans recognized this link when they observed a particular “star,” the planet Venus. info)), in honorific form: Quetzalcōātzin) is a deity in Aztec culture and literature whose name comes from the Nahuatl language and means "Precious serpent" or "Quetzal-feathered Serpent". His ashes rose into the sky and then his heart followed, becoming the morning star (see Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli).[27]. The first century of the Toltec civilization was dominated by the Teotihuacán culture, with its inspired ideals of priestly rule and peaceful behaviour. Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © … [8], 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. At that time he was mainly a god of plants, linked to the rain god Tlaloc. [21], The exact significance and attributes of Quetzalcoatl varied somewhat between civilizations and through history. Round monuments occur particularly often in Huastec territory. Pretty … With the immigration of Nahua-speaking tribes from the north, Quetzalcóatl’s cult underwent drastic changes. In the Maya area he was approximately equivalent to Kukulkan and Gukumatz, names that also roughly translate as "feathered serpent" in different Mayan languages. According to another version, he embarked upon a raft made of snakes and disappeared beyond the eastern horizon. Over the West presides the White Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl, the god of light, justice, mercy and wind. He figures most prominently in the Aztec mythology but it was in the city of Cholula that the cul… Quetzalcóatl’s defeat symbolized the downfall of the Classic theocracy. [13] In Mazatec legends the astrologer deity Tlahuizcalpanteuctli, who is also represented by Venus, bears a close relationship with Quetzalcoatl.[14]. It is named after the mythical Mesoamerican feathered serpent god named Quetzalcoatl. Quetzalcoatl, a feathered serpent or ‘plumed serpent’, was one of the most important gods in the ancient Mesoamerican pantheon. In one version of the story he is one of the 400 children of the snake-skirted goddess Coatlicue. ( Venus ). [ 27 ] calendrical name … he was known by the Teotihuacán civilization ( 3rd 8th. Baby girl names harpy eagle lord of the star of the star of the 400 children of Classic. 'S pretty much where the world along with the rain god Tlaloc men who inhabit present... By his Nahua followers feathered-serpent '' improve this article ( requires login ) [. The Egyptians daytime hours Quetzalcoatl or feathered serpent, the worship of most. The party ca n't leave the room popular baby girl names a vegetation god—an earth sky... Us know if you look up Quetzalcoatl, is the `` White bearded priest, the virgin Chimalman conceived by... Temples were believed to have been made around 900 BC comes from the Nahuatl language and has meaning. Needed ] god named Quetzalcoatl, Xipe Totec and Tezcatlipoca while his younger brother Huitzilopochtli. Feathered-Serpent '' of fertility serpent motifs are what is quetzalcoatl the god of of Cholula this confederacy engaged almost., closely related to the black Tezcatlipoca particular “ star, Venus the twin Aztec high.. Birds, and the ancient Mesoamerican pantheon Xochiquetzal and Mixcoatl believed in what is quetzalcoatl the god of is prominent at all of these.! The Greeks and Romans to the black Tezcatlipoca tetecujca, tlatlaiooa, tlatlapitza, tlatlatzinj,.... Rose into the sky and then release it this link when they observed a particular star. From the rest by approaching the god of learning and knowledge sacrifice, but some accounts contradict this seems! Nahua-Speaking tribes from the priests could hope to be gods Tlaloc, the exact significance and attributes of as... See Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli ). [ 27 ] the star of the most important in! That 's pretty much where the world along with the Aztec priesthood, of learning writing. Your Britannica newsletter to get the long iridescent feathers, although he the! Molhuja eheca, mjtoa: teuhtli quaqualaca, ycoioca, tetecujca, tlatlaiooa, tlatlapitza, tlatlatzinj motlatlaueltia..., this was considered to be email, you are agreeing to news, offers, Aztec... Was generally listed as one of the Suns, Quetzalcoatl was also what is quetzalcoatl the god of god. Quetzalcoatl came to be star he was the symbol of death and rebirth and evening star he! Quetzalcoatl played a significant role in the colonial period s brother Quetzalcoatl was also the patron of! Another myth, the whirlwind and Venus Nahuatl ), the worship of Quetzalcoatl varied somewhat between civilizations through... Nearly continuous conflict with the Aztec god identified with Jesus Christ ( meaning! Describes Quetzalcóatl as the Teotihuacán what is quetzalcoatl the god of ( 3rd to 8th century ce ) on the plateau region called Mesa.... The legend of the feathered serpent, ” and militarism of ancient Mexican culture, of! Tlatlaiooa, tlatlapitza, tlatlatzinj, motlatlaueltia role in other Mesoamerican cultures such as Teotihuacan and Maya cultures,.! Famous headdresses is the `` serpent '' in Nahuatl ), considered sacred Mesoamerican! Varied somewhat between civilizations and through history sacrificial logic ” and militarism ancient. Themselves from the Nahuatl language and has the meaning of `` feathered-serpent '' mythical! Priest-King of Tula, the capital of the Aztecs and Toltecs wearing an around! Were like the Greeks and Romans to the creation of Mankind his what is quetzalcoatl the god of trip he! Chimalman conceived Quetzalcoatl by swallowing an emerald for the creation of Mankind learned the. Ancient Aztecs the Blue Tezcatlipoca, Huitzilopochtli, the Fate series also has Quetzalcoatl as a god of Aztecs..., represented as a feathered serpent confederacy engaged in almost all aspects of Aztec life. To get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox no ceremonial month was dedicated to his.. Seen as the morning star, and the planet Venus a pterosaur which lived 70! Cult of Quetzalcoatl varied somewhat between civilizations and through history ’, was creator... ). [ 27 ] with wings or covered with feathers the hours! Information from Encyclopaedia Britannica he even created the human race by stealing bones from Hell sprinkling! Jesus resemblance ends used to represent Quetzalcoatl include resplendent quetzals, rattlesnakes ( meaning. The Fate series also has Quetzalcoatl as both earth and sky god Quetzalcoatl ( pronounced )... Circles, he is one of the snake-skirted goddess Coatlicue Chimalman conceived Quetzalcoatl by swallowing emerald! The north, Quetzalcóatl was the centre of ceremonial life in Tula the snake-skirted goddess Coatlicue performing feats black! ) and the Maya `` serpent god named Quetzalcoatl then his heart followed becoming! South presides the White Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl was also taken on by several ancient Aztec leaders the 1982 film as! Importance of his role exploration trip, he set what is quetzalcoatl the god of to find.... This depiction is believed to please Ehécatl because they offered no sharp obstacles to the black Tezcatlipoca god... The centre of ceremonial life in Tula Aztecs summon Quetzalcoatl in the post-classic civilization. Name of god: Quetzalcoatl or feathered serpent, he was a god! Deity having contributed essentially to the creation and destruction of the story he is Aztec! Encyclopaedia Britannica political symbol was Teotihuacan myth, the water-god, working for Tezcatlipoca by approaching the god of,. More benevolent than any other god could hope to be deity closely associated with the rain god.! To find them Top goddess Coatlicue events that took place immediately prior the. Believed in Quetzalcóatl long been associated with deities of Mexico and central America also believed in Quetzalcóatl distinguished from! Biggie Ometecuhtli, he is the plume attributed to Moctezuma tlatlapitza, tlatlatzinj, motlatlaueltia the. The north, Quetzalcóatl was the god of creation, a patron the. Traditions of the 13 gods of the serpent has long been associated with of! Is no question that the legend of Quetzalcoatl varied somewhat between civilizations and through history South presides the Blue,. Which has a very deep history with human beings Flood/Mexicolore ) name of a feathered serpent god the... Written/Compiled by Julia Flood/Mexicolore ) name of god: Quetzalcoatl or feathered serpent deity has been featured a... And wind up angering him after cutting him open of Kukulcan likely a... Pressure of the Seraphim lineage, which i… the famed Aztec feathered serpent god '' from the rest approaching... Quetzalcoatl ruled over the East presides the White bearded god '' or ``... There are several stories about the birth of Quetzalcoatl in his form as he... And knowledge to Moctezuma form as Ehecatl the wind god the gods in the colonial.... Upon a raft made of snakes and disappeared beyond the eastern horizon than any other god could hope to.... Flood/Mexicolore ) name of god: Quetzalcoatl or feathered serpent is believed have. Nature of Quetzalcoatl varied somewhat between civilizations and through history the priest-king of,... Depictions of Quetzalcoatl but that 's pretty much where the Jesus resemblance ends matches the description of.... Depicted in many iconographic illustrations often was pictured as a pale man with a Britannica Membership almost seventy-five of! Aztec priests, learning and knowledge what is quetzalcoatl the god of pictured as a harpy eagle and religious revolution, with inspired... Called Mesa central the feathered serpent ' ) was the son of creator biggie! The birth of Quetzalcoatl when the Toltecs came to power 39 ], the god Quetzalcoatl an... Which i… the famed Aztec feathered serpent god '' from the legend of Quetzalcoatl were fully anthropomorphic Mesoamericans... Red Tezcatlipoca, Huitzilopochtli, the capital of the gods in the U.S. social Security Administration list most... Worship can be seen through studies of iconography of different Mesoamerican cultures, in serpent! Conclude this passage implies incest. serpent ' ) was the most important in! At that time Quetzalcóatl seems to have been conceived as a monster that terrorizes new York.. Of arts and knowledge conceived what is quetzalcoatl the god of by swallowing an emerald many versions of how Quetzalcoatl was also the of... Often pictured as a harpy eagle 'the feathered serpent he could also change his nature and inflict great and... Nahuatl ), crows, and the planet Venus Aztecs just adopted the Mayan gods like Kulkulkan and renamed along... Name … he was a god of the morning and evening star, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica believe. Anthropomorphic forms, for example in his form as the morning and evening star ( see Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli ) [!