Who Was Quetzalcoatl To The Aztecs?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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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.

Why did the Aztecs worship Quetzalcoatl?

The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice . Mesoamerican priests and kings would sometimes take the name of a deity they were associated with, so Quetzalcoatl and Kukulcan are also the names of historical persons.

How did the Aztecs represent Quetzalcoatl?

Among the Aztecs, whose beliefs are the best-documented in the historical sources, Quetzalcoatl was related to gods of the wind, of the planet Venus, of the dawn, of merchants and of arts, crafts and knowledge . ... In his form as Ehecatl he is the wind, and is represented by spider monkeys, ducks, and the wind itself.

Who killed Quetzalcoatl?

One Aztec story claims that Quetzalcoatl was tricked by Tezcatlipoca into becoming drunk and sleeping with a celibate (in some accounts, his sister Quetzalpetlatl) and then burned himself to death out of remorse.

Who was known as Quetzalcoatl?

Quetzalcóatl was the son of the primordial androgynous god Ometeotl . In Aztec mythology he was the brother of Tezcatlipoca, Huizilopochtli and Xipe Totec. He is the 9th of the 13 Lords of the Day and is often associated with the rain god Tláloc.

Who is the Aztec god of love?

Xochiquetzal , (Nahuatl: “Precious Feather Flower”) Aztec goddess of beauty, sexual love, and household arts, who is also associated with flowers and plants.

Was Quetzalcoatl a white god?

Some see Quetzalcoatl as a possible White God . Native Americans made contact with pre-Columbian European explorers, influencing their religions and culture.

What Quetzalcoatl the god of?

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.

Can Quetzalcoatl breath fire?

Fire breath

The adult Quetzalcoatl can emit a deadly stream of fire and fire balls from her mouth which takes the form of a stream of flame surrounded by green static.

How did Quetzalcoatl create humans?

He had worms drill a hole in the conch, then filled the shell with bees. Quetzalcoatl's actions successfully tricked Mictlantecuhtli into giving him the bones. ... After his eventual escape, Quetzalcoatl combined the now slightly shuffled bones with his blood and corn to create the first humans of the fifth age.

What language did the Aztecs speak?

Nahuatl language, Spanish náhuatl, Nahuatl also spelled Nawatl, also called Aztec, American Indian language of the Uto-Aztecan family, spoken in central and western Mexico. Nahuatl, the most important of the Uto-Aztecan languages, was the language of the Aztec and Toltec civilizations of Mexico.

How do you say Quetzalcoatl in Spanish?

The correct pronunciation of Quetzalcoatl is KET-sahl-KOH-ah-tul . The “ue” in Quetzalcoatl is pronounced as an “e” with a closed sound. It is preceded by the “Q” which is pronounced simply as a “K”.

When was Quetzalcoatl born?

The historical Quetzalcoatl was probably born around AD 947 . His father, Mixcoatl, was ruler of the Toltecs. He was originally named Ce Acatl Topitzin, meaning “Our Prince Born on Ce Acatl,” the latter being an important Toltec holiday.

What was the largest Aztec festival called?

The largest of the Aztec festivals was the Xiuhmolpilli , which meant “new fire”. It was held once every 52 years in order to prevent the world coming to an end. The Aztecs often went to war in order to take captives that they could use in their sacrifices.

What was the original name of the Aztecs?

Early Aztec History

The Aztecs were also known as the Tenochca (from which the name for their capital city, Tenochtitlan, was derived) or the Mexica (the origin of the name of the city that would replace Tenochtitlan, as well as the name for the entire country).

What was the name of the white skinned Aztec god?

The Aztec god with white skin was Quetzalcoatl . He was also known to take the form of a feathered serpent. This god appears in the mythology of many...

Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.