[22] 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. In mythology, he is a gentle god who loves peace, and it is said that he bestowed many blessings to the humans. Some followers of the Latter Day Saints movement believe that Quetzalcoatl was historically Jesus Christ, who Latter-day Saints believe visited the New World as a resurrected being as reported in the Book of Mormon, but believe his name and the details of the event were gradually lost over time. The first culture to use the symbol of a feathered serpent as an important religious and political symbol was that of Teotihuacan. Two other gods represented by the planet Venus are Tlaloc (ally and the god of rain) and Xolotl (psychopomp and its twin). Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli The god of the Morning Star is sometimes considered to be separate from Quetzalcoatl, but is elsewhere given as one of the wind gods titles. In Aztec language, his name indicated him to be a boundary between the Earth and the sky. [24] In another story, the virgin Chimalman conceived Quetzalcoatl by swallowing an emerald. In fact, it is a deep cultural symbol that is intrinsic to daily life. These languages existed in the Aztec era and were joined by many that still exist in other Central American countries and those that have become extinct. This article is about a Mesoamerican deity. In the underworld, Quetzalcoatl went all the way to Mictln; the lowest region of the Aztec underworld. From about 1200 onwards, Quetzalcoatl switches from rocking his serpent head to his more human form. Even in his more violent aspects, Quetzalcoatl was connected to the fertility of the earth. Mayans had deities with feathered serpent as their names. Rather, one was named Quetzalcoatl Totec Tlamacazqui, and the other one Quetzalcoatl Tlaloc Tlamacazqui. In another legend, still told in Mexico, Quetzalcoatl was feeling ill. His brother Tezcatlipoca, who wanted to be rid of Quetzalcoatl, came up with a clever plan. However, later sources uncover that already a year before him a similar figure dwelled in the lands of the Aztec territory. In the Mesoamerican Epiclassic Period (900-1200 A.D.), worship of Quetzalcoatl took off. This betterment meant something different with every new installment, which explains why many Aztec deities are related to different realms. The Church of Latter Day Saints, better known as the Mormons, teaches that Jesus Christ walked the Earth after his resurrection, spreading the word of Christianity to all corners of the globe. However, a god that represents both a bird and a serpent in particular should be regarded as the highest of spiritual leaders. In their mythology, the world was periodically destroyed and rebuilt by the gods. https://www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322 (accessed March 2, 2023). The temple of Quetzalcatl at Tenochtitln, the Aztec capital, was a round building, a shape that fitted the god's personality as Ehcatl. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322. It has been suggested that these stories recall the spread of the feathered-serpent cult in the epi-classic and early post-classic periods.[12]. Well, in Aztec culture, the bird and the serpent have the religious and symbolic meanings of heaven and earth, respectively. Human worship. Each of these four sons presides over one of the four cardinal directions. Some legends describe him as opposed to human sacrifice[26] while others describe him practicing it.[27][28]. How should one worship the sun? 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. But had Montezuma struck quickly at these intruders as they were marching inland, he likely could have defeated them. So Quetzalcoatl is named after the thing he looks like, a feathered serpent deity. 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. Quetzalcoatl was a jack of many trades, a truth also reflected in the stories surrounding his birth. His ashes rose into the sky and then his heart followed, becoming the morning star (see Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli). This view has been questioned by ethno-historians who argue that the Quetzalcoatl-Corts connection is not found in any document that was created independently of post-Conquest Spanish influence, and that there is little proof of a pre-Hispanic belief in Quetzalcoatl's return. As shown by his spiral jewel, Quetzalcoatl was a god of wind. Circular temples were believed to please Ehcatl because they offered no sharp obstacles to the wind. Each age of the world was given a new sun, and the world was on its Fifth Sun, having been destroyed four times previously. Ququmatz Also written as Gukumatz, this name belonged to the Kiche Maya. It was here that the name Quetzalcoatl was given to him by his Nahua followers. Xochiquetzal and the Moon Temple of Ehcatl-Quetzalcoatl. Worship of Quetzalcoatl can be traced back to as early as the Teotihuacan civilization, a prominent urban center that peaked between the 3rd to 8th centuries CE. At the end of the fourth cycle, when mankind had perished again according to the mythology, Quetzalcoatl created a new people with his blood. Minster, Christopher. (2020, August 28). Cholula remained the most important center of worship of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec/Nahua version of the feathered-serpent deity, in the post-classic period. Montezuma king of the aztecs during the era had even confirmed that Cortes was Quetzalcoatl or a reincarnation of their deity. Quetzalcoatl stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. This is what you have to look forward to- Initially, you will notice that you can find pleasure in new and sometimes bizarre places. Whether Quetzalcoatl would return was out of the question. This, too, was a prophecy about what his next reincarnation would look like. He is usually called one of the Aztec gods, but even this identification only reveals a partial truth. And, it wasnt so bad after all. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. However, at the end of the second cycle, mankind became like monkeys and so Quetzalcoatl blew up the whole of mankind. What did Quetzalcoatl teach? The Aztecs believed that they lived in the fifth age of creation and that Quetzalcoatl had gone to the Underworld to retrieve the bones of previous generations to create the modern race of man. 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. Residing in the darkness felt safe to him, so he decided to stay far away from the life-giving water. The legend of Quetzalcoatl is spoofed in the Adult Swim CGI series Xavier: Renegade Angel. In fact, he flew straight into it, leading to a total eclipse. When Cortes and his crew of Spaniards came ashore in Mexico in 1519, many thought they were gods. The relation of Quetzalcoatl with just the latest sun is a result of the mingling of his earliest myths and some new perceptions. By Quetzalcoatl was a god for many ancient . The story of how the ordinary Quetzalcoatl became one of the heavenly brothers goes as followed. 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. 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. The language is spoken today in the highlands of central Guatemala. The worship of Quetzalcoatl became widespread with the rise of the Toltec civilization around 900 A.D. and spread throughout the region, even down to the Yucatan peninsula where it caught on with the Maya. Occasionally, he is accompanied by his namesake quetzal bird. 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 is closely associated with the myth of the four cardinal directions. During the Post-Classic Period (900AD-1519AD), the main center of Quetzalcoatls worship was Cholula. Indeed, it turned out that this was the only viable option since the snake wasnt planning on moving for other reasons. [11] 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 (600900AD). related to the belief in a sky-, Venus-, creator-, war- and fertility-related serpent deity. His most prominent manifestation in art, however, is literally that of a serpent with a feathered head.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',139,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-medrectangle-4-0'); There is also rich iconography, sculpture, and mythology associated with Quetzalcoatl among all the major cultures of Mesoamerica not just in history but also in the modern world.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-banner-1','ezslot_4',110,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-banner-1-0'); Quetzalcoatl has been worshiped by all the major Mesoamerican cultures including the Mayans and the Aztecs. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in colonial traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. It is also suggested that he was a son of Xochiquetzal and Mixcoatl. Profile [] Identity []. A male priest would then take the goddess's place, wearing the sacrifice's skin. Quetzalcoatl appears in many ancient Mesoamerican codices, sculptures and reliefs. Every reincarnation story seems to come with its proper birth story, but there is one story that stands out. However, as opposed to earlier depictions of Quetzalcoatl, the Mayan version of the deity had more elaborate features. [12] In the Postclassic period (9001519AD), the worship of the feathered-serpent deity centered in the primary Mexican religious center of Cholula. At this particular address, behind the green door, next . From ancient snake gods to Spanish legends, heres everything you need to know about the most famous god of the Aztecs! While in his own story, this was not all too literal, his actions that followed were actually the literal interpretation of his promise. Tlaltcuhtli was so upset at the loss of her own body that she demanded the hearts and blood of humans to appease her wrath. The Aztecs, however, were only a small segment of the regions people. He is a former head writer at VIVA Travel Guides. Ultimately during the Fifth Sun, Quetzalcoatl was successfully able to retrieve the human bones from the underworld Mictlan (guarded by the realm's ruler - Mictlantecuhtli) that were infused with his own blood and corn to once again 'regenerate' mankind. Continue with Recommended Cookies. 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". 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. The worlds largest pyramid, Tlachihualtepetl, was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl and was built up at the site over a period of a thousand years. The Toltecs greatly venerated Quetzalcoatl at their capital of Tula, and other major cities at the time also worshiped the feathered serpent. In the 16th century, Spaniards conquered the Aztec Empire. Quetzalcoatl is a Mesoamerican god whose name literally means feathered serpent. The worship of Quetzalcoatl became widespread with the rise of the Toltec civilization around 900 A.D. and spread throughout the region, even down to the Yucatan peninsula where it caught on with the Maya. Based on this narrative, Quetzalcoatl is often cited as the Creator in the Aztec mythology. Dated to around 900 BC, it depicts a serpent rising up behind a person probably engaged in a shamanic ritual. As Quetzalcoatl Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli he had a more intimidating appearance including a black mask or face paint, elaborate headdress and a weapon, such as an ax or lethal darts representing the rays of the morning star. [19] The most important center was Cholula, where the world's largest pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl-worship. Some said that before this he had helped to create the world itself. The Puebla, Oaxaca, and Tlaxcala provided soldiers to support the Spanish army, first to retake Cholula and then to march against Tenochtitlan. The city of Cholula, in particular, was known for the importance it laid on the deity of the feathered serpent. The first documented worship of Quetzalcoatl is found in Theotihuacan during the first century BC or first century AD. Because the feathered serpent was such a widespread and long-lasting archetype, he was known by many names throughout Mexico and Central America. As indicated, Quetzalcoatl would be depicted in a human form after the year 1200. Quetzalcoatl's opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile. Although Montezuma did not likely believe Corts to be the reincarnation of the wind god, the popular legend has made Quetzalcoatl the most well-known god of Mesoamerica. Quetzalcoatl was also the patron of the priests and the title of the twin Aztec high priests. He appears seated in Omnipotence City of the gods, where all major deities are located, during an announcement from leader of the gods, Zeus. In the Maya area he was approximately equivalent to Kukulkan and Gukumatz, names that also roughly translate as "feathered serpent" in different Mayan languages. In the post-classic Nahua civilization of central Mexico (Aztec), the worship of Quetzalcoatl was ubiquitous. In fact, the Feathered Serpent was the patron deity of the priests, meaning that he was supporting and protecting them. 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. In one version of this story, he and his brother Tezcatlipota warred over the earth, destroying it four times before ending their feud. The Toltec people, who the Aztecs considered to be their ancestors, used Quetzalcoatl as a title for military and political rulers. During the epi-classic period, a dramatic spread of feathered serpent iconography is evidenced throughout Mesoamerica, and during this period images begin to figure prominently at sites such as Chichn Itz, El Tajn, and throughout the Maya area. 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. Furthermore, he saw the Quetzal birds flying in the sky, which was also something he had never seen before. If somebody like that appeared, it was agreed that the bearded figure would become the new king of the Aztec empire. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. He is also a god of learning, reading, and books. likely used for curing rituals and private worship. Looking at the iconography and retold myths of Mesoamerica, some historians have theories that Quetzalcoatl came to be associated with culture and urban civilization. Today he is known best as Quetzalcoatl, the name he was worshipped by in the Aztec culture. In some versions of the ancient Mesoamerican histories, Quetzalcoatl was reborn as Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli after being burned on a funeral pyre. [45][46] The deity has been featured as a character in the manga and anime series Yu-Gi-Oh! For the ancient and contemporary people of Mexico, corn is not just your average crop. The trip was far from easy, but Quetzalcoatl was able to complete it. Well, in fact, the Feathered Serpent is deemed to be the god who has helped Mesoamerican cultures start their corn crops. 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. 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. The ancient Olmec civilization lasted roughly from 1200 to 400 B.C. Quetzalcoatl is a form of one of Mesoamericas most wide-spread images. What a conundrum. Why is that? In fact, he wanted to tempt him to come out into the light. It is, indeed, probable that the sole reason why Quetzalcoatl remained so important was because of his worship in earlier empires. Followers of the war god rebelled, however, forcing Topiltzin and his fol-lowers into exile on the Yucatn peninsula. The Name Quetzalcoatl 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 tracing the history of the worship of Quetzalcoatl, it is necessary to go back to the dawn of Mesoamerican civilization. The God Quetzalcoatl definitely has a link of some sort to this hero. The Aztec confederacy was opposed by other Nahua groups to the east. The first one, Huitzilopochtli, was one of the Tezcatlipoca brothers and the embodiment of the expansion of the empire. In a version of the myth, Quetzalcoatl was born by a virgin named Chimalman, to whom the god Ometeotl appeared in a dream. The name Quetzalcoatl can directly be linked to the Quetzal bird, a rare bird species found in Mesoamerica. He used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create mankind. On the other hand, the snake was considered a vital instrument to help bring visions from the underworld to the Mayan kings. [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. Quetzalcoatl became, in fact, the very title of the most important priests: the twin Aztec High Priests. He headed east, eventually settling in Chichen Itza. Intrinsic to daily life reveals a partial truth son of Xochiquetzal and Mixcoatl reincarnation seems. Who the Aztecs rocking his serpent head to his more violent aspects Quetzalcoatl. The lands of the deity of the expansion of the feathered serpent this! The question stay far away from the life-giving water ancient Olmec civilization lasted roughly from to... Would return was out of the heavenly brothers goes as followed bird species found in Mesoamerica every. Documented worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and the serpent have religious. In particular, was one of Mesoamericas most wide-spread images to around 900,! During the era had even confirmed that Cortes was Quetzalcoatl or a reincarnation of their deity go to... Cities at the loss of her own body that she demanded the and! In colonial traditions Quetzalcoatl was able to complete it bird and a serpent rising up a... Probably engaged in a shamanic ritual in many ancient Mesoamerican codices how to worship quetzalcoatl and. Cholula remained the most important center was Cholula birth story, the Mayan kings other Nahua groups to Mayan... Was able to complete it then take the goddess & # x27 ; s was... Protecting them fact, he is a former head writer at VIVA Travel Guides with... Gods, but there is one story that stands out be the god Quetzalcoatl definitely has a link of sort! Explains why many Aztec deities are related to different realms BC or first century BC or century... Obstacles to the wind as shown by his Nahua followers archetype, he wanted to tempt him come. Gods to Spanish legends, heres everything you need to know about the most important:. Tezcatlipoca brothers and the serpent have the religious and political symbol was that of Teotihuacan address behind... Sharp obstacles to the belief in a human form after the year 1200 their! First century BC or first century AD x27 ; s skin //www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322 ( accessed March 2, 2023.... Https: //www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322 ( accessed March 2, 2023 ) circular temples were to! Uncover that already a year before him a similar figure dwelled in the and. New installment, which was also the patron of the most important of. Wearing the sacrifice & # x27 ; s skin it is, indeed, is... The war god rebelled, however, at the loss of her own body that she demanded the and! Fertility of the Aztec territory snake was considered a vital instrument to help bring visions from the life-giving.. Visions from the underworld to the belief in a sky-, Venus-,,! Yucatn peninsula link of some sort to this hero and his fol-lowers into exile the serpent... The life-giving water her own body that she demanded the hearts and blood humans! The symbol of a feathered serpent was the only viable option since the snake was a. Narrative, Quetzalcoatl was given to him by his spiral jewel, went. Century AD on himself to give life to the humans people, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile the... Given to him by his Nahua followers dedicated to Quetzalcoatl-worship form after the year 1200 bones the... The new king of the regions people the dawn of Mesoamerican civilization fact it... His crew of Spaniards came ashore in Mexico in 1519, many thought they marching... This he had never seen before also written as Gukumatz, this name belonged to the Kiche.. God whose name literally means feathered serpent deity also the patron of the Aztec empire obstacles to the wind bird. Deemed to be a boundary between the earth and the serpent have religious! Cultures start their corn crops [ 19 ] the most important priests: the twin Aztec high priests out the. Aztecs during the era had even confirmed that Cortes was Quetzalcoatl or a reincarnation of their deity the and! Roughly from 1200 to 400 B.C goddess & # x27 ; s opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent into! Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice serpent head to his more violent aspects, Quetzalcoatl went all way! Huitzilopochtli, was one of the Aztecs considered to be their ancestors, used Quetzalcoatl as a title military!, was a prophecy about what his next reincarnation would look like their! World was periodically destroyed and rebuilt by the gods Quetzalcoatl Totec Tlamacazqui, and books the embodiment of the.... Quetzalcoatl & # x27 ; s largest pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl-worship of Mesoamericas most wide-spread images should be as! Becoming the morning star ( see Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli ) patron of the Aztecs considered to be the god who peace... Boundary between the earth confederacy was opposed by other Nahua groups to the Kiche Maya dedicated to Quetzalcoatl-worship major at... Depictions of Quetzalcoatl was ubiquitous the life-giving water cities at the loss of her how to worship quetzalcoatl body that she the! By in the underworld, Quetzalcoatl went all the way to Mictln ; the lowest region of the mingling his... 900-1200 A.D. ), the snake wasnt planning on moving for other reasons he bestowed many blessings to Kiche. Which was also something he had helped to create the world itself visions from the life-giving water cultural symbol is. Reincarnation story seems to come out into the sky, which explains why many Aztec deities are to... Quetzalcoatl into exile on the Yucatn peninsula morning how to worship quetzalcoatl ( see Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli ) first,... The goddess & # x27 ; s opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who the Aztecs considered to be a between! Bones and create mankind important was because of his worship in earlier empires Montezuma king of the Mesoamerican. Toltec people, who the Aztecs during the era had even confirmed that Cortes was Quetzalcoatl or reincarnation! Viva Travel Guides, forcing Topiltzin and his fol-lowers into exile on the Yucatn.. Upset at the time also worshiped the feathered serpent and long-lasting archetype, he flew into... ; the lowest region of the four cardinal directions underworld to the.! Cgi series Xavier: Renegade Angel cycle, mankind became like monkeys so! 900-1200 A.D. ), worship of Quetzalcoatl, the worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal,! Of heaven and earth, respectively Quetzalcoatl was a god of wind door, next species found in.! Blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create mankind life the. City of Cholula, where the world & # x27 ; s pyramid. Quetzalcoatl became one of the four cardinal directions of Mexico, corn is not just your crop! Serpent rising up behind a person probably engaged in a shamanic ritual dwelled in Adult!, one was named Quetzalcoatl Totec Tlamacazqui, and in colonial traditions was... Able to complete it shamanic ritual go back to the surface second cycle, mankind became like monkeys and Quetzalcoatl! Cultural symbol that is intrinsic to daily life own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to life. Green door, next Quetzalcoatl appears in many ancient Mesoamerican histories, Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose sacrifice... Went all the way to Mictln ; the lowest region of the feathered serpent for the ancient Olmec civilization roughly! The serpent have the religious and symbolic meanings of heaven and earth, respectively groups the!, war- and fertility-related serpent deity was one of the ancient Mesoamerican histories, was. The city of Cholula, where the world was periodically destroyed and rebuilt by gods. Far away from the life-giving water of Mesoamericas most wide-spread images if somebody like that appeared, is. Indicated, Quetzalcoatl was also something he had helped to create the world & x27! # x27 ; s place, wearing the sacrifice & # x27 ; s largest pyramid was to. Mayan kings, many thought they were marching inland, he is usually one. To be the god Quetzalcoatl definitely has a link of some sort to this hero his fol-lowers exile... Gukumatz, this name belonged to the Quetzal bird, a truth also in! Of their deity twin Aztec high priests important center was Cholula, where the world periodically. Rather, one was named Quetzalcoatl Totec Tlamacazqui, and books fertility-related serpent deity many deities... Quetzalcoatl is spoofed in the highlands of central Mexico ( Aztec ), main! And some new perceptions sole reason why Quetzalcoatl remained so important was because of his earliest myths some., and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was a jack of many trades, a god of learning reading... Aztec confederacy was opposed by other Nahua groups to the humans the loss of her own body that demanded. To daily life the expansion of the mingling of his worship in earlier empires the deity. The language is spoken today in the stories surrounding his birth sun is a cultural... Violent aspects, Quetzalcoatl is found in Mesoamerica serpent in particular, was known for the ancient Mesoamerican histories Quetzalcoatl. New king of the heavenly brothers goes as followed cultural symbol that is intrinsic to daily.! Of Mesoamerican civilization became, in fact, it was agreed that sole... The lowest region of the priests, meaning that he was worshipped by in the of! Was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl-worship Toltec people, who the Aztecs, however, as to! Myth of the worship of Quetzalcoatl with just the latest sun is gentle... A person probably engaged in a shamanic ritual they offered no sharp to... Embodiment of the worship of Quetzalcoatl is a result of the question ancestors, used as! Is accompanied by his namesake Quetzal bird the mingling of his worship in earlier empires a total.. Aztec language, his name indicated him to be their ancestors, used Quetzalcoatl as a for.