In the eye of ancient Mesoamerica , amidst the vivacious refinement of the Aztecs , Mayans and other autochthonic peoples , one god hold a central place in religious opinion and ethnic imagination : Quetzalcoatl , the fledge serpent god .
Known by many names across different civilizations , Quetzalcoatl was a complex figure , embody aspects of creation , wind and even warfare .
The Origins and Mythology of Quetzalcoatl
The bloodline of the plumed ophidian Quetzalcoatl ’s adoration trace back to the pre - Columbian civilizations of Central Mexico , particularly among theAztecsand the Maya .
The name " Quetzalcoatl " itself is derived from Nahuatl , the speech of the Aztecs , combining " quetzal bird , " refer to the colorful bird renowned for its beautiful plume , and " coatl , " mean ophidian . This amalgamation reflects the duality in Quetzalcoatl ’s nature as both a square creature and a snake . TheMayaused the nameKukulkanto refer to the same feathered serpent god .
According to Aztec tradition , Quetzalcoatl was one of the creator divinity responsible for shaping the earthly concern and humanity . His association with the morning star and eventide star ( the major planet Venus ) further underline his significance as a celestial and tellurian force .
The motive of the plumed serpent became ubiquitous in Mesoamerican art and icononography , including for both the Aztec and the Maya peoples . Many archaeologic site and sanctified situation related to ancient Mesoamerica feature this classic Maya serpent iconography alongside symbols relate to the the great unwashed ’s rituals and ceremonies .
Symbolism of the Feathered Serpent
In some interpretations of Aztec mythology , Quetzalcoatl played the role of a war serpent , symbolise power and authority in battle . The Aztecs also associated Quetzalcoatl with living and death , the god symbolic of the natural cosmos ’s cycle of renewal , as well as of the rebirth stories that permeate ancient Mesoamerican culture .
Cultural Significance
Feathered snake figure conspicuously in the religious belief and ethnic practices of ancient Mesoamerican societies .
Throughout ancient Mexico , ceremonies dedicated to Quetzalcoatl took place agree to the Aztec ritual calendar . multitude adorned ceremonial artifacts with serpent motifs and paint elaborate mural in his temples to depict the snake rise in celestial splendor .
Tenochtitlan , a pre - Columbian urban center that may have been the largest in the Americas at its heyday , was the capital of the Aztec empire and the site of the Templo Mayor , a temple dedicated to Quetzalcoatl , in addition to Tlaloc , the rain god , and Huitzilopochtli , the god of sun and war .
Modern - day Mexico City now resist where the Aztec capital once did , with the historical city center over what was formerly the temple .
earlier built around 1325 , the Templo Mayor was a focal level of human sacrifice as well as other rituals and activities of religious veneration . According to the Aztec ritual calendar , a human sacrifice was necessary multiple prison term throughout the class , such as bydecapitationorremoval of the person ’s heart , to appease the gods and control the empire ’s continued prosperity .
Legends and a Prophecy
There are numerous legends about Quetzalcoatl throughout Mesoamerican mythology . These include tale of his eventual departure from the mortal region , which are reflected in the Aztec people ’s feathered snake iconography .
In one tradition , the serpent god fox himself on a funeral pyre beside the ocean only to be born-again as the planet Venus . In another , he rode eastward on a raft of snakes , leaving the mortal world behind .
One of the most enduring caption surrounding the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl is the prophecy of his counter , consanguineous to the 2d Coming of Jesus Christ in Christian theological system . According to Aztec culture , Quetzalcoatl would one day revert from the Orient to populate again among his people , bringing them successfulness and enlightenment .
Connection to the Fall of the Aztec Empire
Some historian assert a feeling in the god ’s homecoming caused the Aztec rulerMontezuma IIto open up his kingdom to Hernan Cortes , who led the Spanish seduction into the Americas in 1519 . He may have believed that Cortes was the return god Quetzalcoatl or that Cortes and his troops were Quetzalcoatl ’s divine messenger .
The Spanish conquest chip in importantly to the fall of the Aztec empire , bring diseases like smallpox and lead to period of warfare and great instability .
In 1521 , during the Battle of Tenochtitlan , Cortes and his USA ultimately overrule the capital city after93 days of combat . This established the first dependency of New Spain and ensured Aztec culture would never be the same again .
The Legacy of Quetzalcoatl
Despite the devastating gist of the Spanish conquest and the subsequent inhibition of the local mass ’s autochthonic beliefs and practices , the influence of Quetzalcoatl has prevail .
look-alike of the Aztec god , depicted in synagogue rilievo and leaf-book , have become synonymous with the Mesoamerican culture . From the Isidor Feinstein Stone figures in the once swarm city of Teotihuacan to the sculpture in the iconic ruins of Chichen Itza , the plumed serpent left an indelible mark on the corporate cognizance of the area .
The bequest of the god Quetzalcoatl extends even beyond the confines of ancient Mexico . you could find his influence in the portmanteau word of Catholicism and indigenous spirituality that characterizes many advanced - sidereal day Mesoamerican communities .
The limning of Quetzalcoatl as a god with a serpent head alongside the veneration of human saints and the Virgin Mary reflects the resilience of autochthonic finish in the face of colonial oppressiveness .
This article was created in colligation with AI technology , then was fact - checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor .
