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comparative religion >>
ancient mythology >> mesoamerica >>
Quetzalcoatl
QUETZALCOATL, (the god of civilization and learning) "quetzal
(feather) serpent," had dozens of associations.
It was the name of a deity, a royal title, the name of a legendary
priest-ruler, a title of high priestly office. But its most fundamental
significance as a natural force is symbolized by the sculpture of
a coiled plumed serpent rising from a base whose underside is carved
with the symbols of the earth deity and Tlaloc.
The image of the serpent rising from the earth and bearing water
on its tail is explained in the Nahuatl language by a description
of Quetzalcoatl in terms of the rise of a powerful thunderstorm
sweeping down, with wind raising dust before bringing rain.
The Creator God-The Feathered Serpent-The Founder of Agriculture-
Precious Feather Snake- The Road Sweeper
Often portrayed with a black beard to represent age or as an old
man. Covering his mouth there is often a red mask in the form of
a bird's beak. His mask identifies him as the god of wind and he
was worshiped under the name of Ehecatl, or wind. One of the greatest
gods, god of wind, light, and Venus.
God of twins and monsters. Legend has Quetzalcoatl and his twin
brother Xolotl, descending to hell and retrieving human bones. By
dripping his blood onto the bones, human resurrection began.
Men therefore, are the children of Quetzalcoatl. He is always presented
as benevolent. He wears about his neck a "Wind Jewell"
made from a conch and his head was adorned with a jaguar bonnet
or sometimes a small cap. A sharp bone protrudes from the headgear
which flows the blood that nourishes his nahualli, the Quetzal bird.
He taught men science and the calendar and devised ceremonies.
He discovered corn, and all good aspects of civilization. Quetzalcoatl
is a perfect representation of saintliness. His cult transformed
into a type of nobility cult and only special sacrifices selected
from the Nobel classes were made to him, and then only in secret.
Quetzalcoatl is a very ancient god known to the Mayas and ancient
Teotihuacan ruins. Quetzalcoatl was said to be the son of Camaxtli
and Chimalma and he was born in Michatlauhco, "Fish Deeps".
His mother died during his birth and he was raised by his grandfathers.
The multiplicity of Quetzalcoatl's roles attest to the antiquity
of his cult following and his adoration.
He is credited with allowing the Spanish and Cortes to march into
the Aztec lands. The Aztec people thought Cortes was an incarnation
of Quetzalcoatl returning from the East to retake his lands as told
in legend.
It was not uncommon for a hundred years after the conquest for
merchants in smaller towns to work and save for twenty years just
to throw a large banquet to this most revered god. Before the conquest
slaves would have been bathed and sacrificed for this feast.
The "Ehecailacacozcatl" or the winds that proceed a rain
downpour were associated with Quetzalcoatl. Lightning as it contains
a serpentine shape was also associated with this god in the name
xonecuilli.
Also considered to be worshiped under the names Tlilpotonqui, "Feathered
in Black", and possibly as Ecacouayo Mixtli, "A Twister",
in association with his capacity as God of the Wind. In the Codex
Magliabechiano, pl. 34, Quetzalcoatl was refered to as Tlaloc.
The Codex Cospi pls. 9-11 contain references to his association
with the planet Venus and it's destructive powers as well as the
Codex Borgia, pl. 53f.
In the Vienna Codex this god is depicted as an alert youth sitting
at the feet of the "Old Ones", The dual divinity. Could
also appear as "Yacateuctli, Lord of the Vanguard, or one who
goes forth, Yacacoliuhqui, "He with the Aquiline Nose",
and as Yacapitzahuac, "Pointed Nose". May have been worshiped
under the name of "Our Reverend Prince", and Ocelocoatl
in his black or night form.
In Boone's translation of the Magliabechiano Codex, Quetzalcoatl
is mentioned as being the son of Miclantecutli, Lord of the Place
of the Dead. Boone relates in her translation an interesting story
concerning Quetzalcoatl as having washed his hands and then touched
his penis and caused semen to drop on a rock). A bat grew from this
union of semen and rock who other gods sent to bite the flower goddess
Xochiquetzal. This bat bit off a piece of her vagina while she was
sleeping and took it to the gods. They then washed it and from the
water that was spilled came forth flowers that smelled bad. This
same bat took the flesh to Mictlantecuhtli where he washed the piece
of flesh and the water that he used brought forth sweet smelling
flowers the indians called xochitrls.
Often depicted holding a thorn used to let blood. He created auto-sacrifice,
a forerunner to human sacrifice. He is said to have let blood in
honor to Camaxtli (Mixcoatl), who the Aztec believed to be Quetzalcoatl's
father.
Quetzalcoatl's priests would bang a drum in the morning and in
the evening in reverence to Quetzalcoatl. At that time merchants
could leave the city and visitors could enter Tenochtitlan. The
drum of Quetzalcoatl may be compared with the flute of Tezcatlipoca.
The drum separated night from day. The flute was heard at night.
The sound of the flute was shrill and anxiety followed it's music.
According to Sahagun, Quetzalcoatl's temple was high with a narrow
staircase with steps so narrow that feet had a hard time holding.
The image was covered with tapestries with an ugly and bearded face.
This deity is depicted on a statue, currently in the British Museum,
with ocelot claw ear-rings. The roar of this animal was believed
to help bring the sun into the sky. This statue also holds a studded
club in the right hand and in the left a skull, the sign of his
twin brother Xolotl. The statue venerates the rising from the jaws
of the feathered serpent as the morning star Venus rises to announce
the sunrise. The statue further bears a collar symbol of the sun.
According to Burland's book, this statue commemorates a transit
of Venus in the year 1508.
Lord of Healing and magical herbs, known as a symbol of thought
and learning, of the arts, poetry, and all things good and beautiful.
Lord of Hope and Lord of the Morning Star. He has been likened to
England's King Arthur, both a real person and myth. According to
the Vienna Codex a series of nine different Toltec kings succeeded
the original man/god all calling themselves Quetzalcoatl. In the
Codex Laud, Quetzalcoatl is seen as wind blowing in the waters.
Sitting on the water, displaying her genitals, was a tempting Tlazoteotl.
The wind of Quetzalcoatl is the breath of life and will fertilize
her. Quetzalcoatl was the god of life and gave penitence, love,
and exemption from rituals of sacrifice and Autosacrifice.
His association with the feathered serpent is an interesting story.
The quetzal bird, native to the western area of Guatemala and Mexico,
was regarded as the most beautiful bird and called Quetzaltotolin,
meaning "most precious". The symbol of the feathered serpent
was Quetzalcoatl, meaning not just feathered serpent, but "most
precious serpent". Quetzalcoatl is not the feathered serpent
but the one who emerges from the serpent as Venus rises from the
morning horizon.
He has been depicted occasionally on statues showing him as a great
priest, the Lord of Penitence, with a painted black stripe beside
the eyes and a red ring surrounding the mouth and blue areas on
the forehead. As Ehecatl, Lord of the Winds, he is depicted wearing
a mask with a pointed snout covering his lower face. This is known
as his "wind mask", and is usually painted bright red.
According to Burland this was derived from the Mexican whistling
toad, Rhinophryne dorsalis. It's shape suggested the earth monster,
a cross between an alligator and a toad. Temples to Ehecatl were
circular as the god of wind could blow or breath in any direction.
In the Vienna Codex, Quetzalcoatl is depicted holding the heavens
with his hands, symbolic of holding the rain clouds and sky in place.
The Spanish missionaries early adopted the myth of Quetzalcoatl
and thought that he was actually St. Thomas the Apostle, who had
come to Mexico to help convert the Aztec Indians to Christianity
and that the spirit of St. Thomas was in Cortes. Today the figure
of Quetzalcoatl can be seen in department store windows in Mexico
City replacing a traditional Santa Claws figure. This figure wears
a garland of feathers and a representational mask of the old venerated
god and symbolizes the bringing of life and gifts.
According to the Treatise by Alarcon, Quetzalcoatl was also known
as "Matl", which meant "hand" in Nahuatl.
Often depicted as a white skinned god with a black beard, recent
scholarly theories suggest that the man-god may have been a
Viking who had lost his way.
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MESOAMERICA
