Quetzalcoatl and its legend

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The world of mythology of the indigenous peoples of South America contains many fascinating stories about the reality around us. Quetzalcoatl also known as Kukulkan or Feathered Serpent can tell us one of them.

People have always explained phenomena incomprehensible to them. The existence of supernatural forces guiding the fate of the world. It is worth noting how found reality affects the shape and image of gods in various cultures. The gods of northern peoples were more selfish, spiteful and wilful. Southern peoples, on the other hand. They lived in an environment rich in fertile land and abundant natural resources. They believed in deities that were helpful and conducive to life. The Indian Gods are no different.

South America is a lush and diverse environment. It can be seen reflected in the culture and beliefs of the indigenous peoples. Native American mythology is rife with a variety of deities and mystical creatures. The world itself, as legends say, was created by many gods.

One of the creators of the world was a Mesoamerican deity whose name comes from the Nahuatl language and means „feathered serpent.” Depending on the region, he had different names and nicknames. In Aztec culture, he was known as Quetzalcoatl, Gucumatz, Votan, Ehecatl, as the god of the wind, or Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, as the representative of the morning star. In Mayan culture, he was known as Kukulcan. Quetzalcoatl sat in the pantheon of Aztec gods, alongside Tlaloc, Tezcatlipoca and Huitzilopochtli. He was considered the god of wind, sky, earth, water, fertility , dawn, merchants, arts, crafts and knowledge. He was also the patron of the Aztec priesthood. The great importance of this God is evidenced, among other things, by the pyramid located in the ancient city of Teotihuacán in Mexico. It is the third, largest structure and one of the oldest in Mesoamerica ¹. Quetzalcoatl - Codex Telleriano-Remensis

It is not known exactly when and which people created the cult of the Feathered Serpent. This is due to the culture of the time, which created their own states on the basis of previous ones. It obliterated the memory of them and presented their achievements as its own. However, it is known that the Olmec civilization the first civilization of Mesoamerica, whose origins are dated to 1500 BC. It worshipped the image of a feathered dragon, which was the deity of land, agriculture, fertility and fire. The Olmec dragon was probably the protoplast of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl.

The myth of the creation of the world

It was in Teotihuacán, Mexico, according to beliefs. After the expiration of the fourth sun, which heralded the end of the world. The gods met to debate which of them should become the fifth sun. Thus extending the life of the world. Tecuciztecatl, the haughty and proud god, declared to sacrifice himself. However, the other gods favored Nanahuatzin, the smallest and humblest among them. The gods lit a great fire. At the last second, Tecuciztecatl refused to jump into the fire, overcome by fear of pain. Instead, Nanahuatzin jumped in. Embarrassed by Nanahuatzin's sacrifice, Tecuciztecatl followed him. Two suns rose in the sky, but together they were too bright. The gods threw a rabbit at Tecuciztecatl to dim its light. This created the moon ². One legend says that Quetzalcoatl went to the underground world of Mictlan and created the current world of the fifth sun from the bones of previous races using his own blood.

The impact of colonization on mythology

Quetzalcoatl appeared taking the form of a white bearded man. According to legends passed from mouth to mouth, he gave people a calendar marking the days of the fifth sun. He created astronomy and mathematics. He taught people to grow corn and cotton. It is worth noting some similarities in the story of the creation of the world to the Christian religion. In addition to the image of a white bearded man resembling Jesus. Quetzalcoatl was also born to a virgin. However, in this case she was a goddess. In 999 Quetzalcoatl left the Indians pledging prophecies to them. The feathered serpent foretold the arrival of white conquerors from across the ocean, who would overthrow the Indian gods by replacing them with his own, unspecified deity. He also announced his reappearance in the year of the reed, falling every 52 years. A little over 500 years later in 1519 during the year of the reed. At the place where Quetzalcoatl predicted his reappearance. A ship appeared. Spanish conquistadors led by Hernán Cortés arrived in the Americas ³. The prediction came true in a perverse way. Since the 16th century, it was believed that Aztec emperor Montezuma II initially believed the landing of Hernán Cortés. For the return of Quetzalcoatl. This view has been challenged by historians, who say that no document has been found that originated independently of Spanish influence. Links between Quetzalcoatl and Cortés ⁴. Nonetheless, this prediction may have been the reason for the overconfidence in the invaders and their easy entry into the hinterland.

Good god, bad followers

The exact meaning and characteristics of Quetzalcoatl vary somewhat from civilization to civilization and throughout history. There are several stories about the birth of Quetzalcoatl. In one myth, Quetzalcoatl was born of a virgin named Chimalman, whom the god Onteol visited in a dream. Another story relates that Chimalman was hit in the womb by an arrow shot by Mixcoatl the Aztec star god. Nine months later, she gave birth to a child, whom she named after Quetzalcoatl. A third story tells, of Quetzalcoatl's birth by the goddess Coatlicue, mother of the four hundred children who formed the stars of the Milky Way. According to another version of the myth, Quetzalcoatl is one of the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl, the four Tezcatlipocas, each of whom presides over one of the four majors ⁵. Quetzalcoatl was often considered the morning star god, and his twin brother Xolotl was considered the evening star (Venus). As the morning star, he was known by the title Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, which means „lord of the dawn star.” Quetzalcoatl was also the patron saint of priests and the title of the twin Aztec high priests. The feathered serpent created a world full of peace and harmony, which earned him respect and recognition. Some legends describe him as being opposed to human sacrifice. Over time, his intentions were distorted and despite his outspoken opposition in his teachings. Human sacrifices were also offered on his altars. Quetzalcoatl ruled during one of the five eras of creation. During which he and his wife brought the last known race of humanity into existence. They then taught it to obtain food, make fire and offer sacrifices to the gods.

Precious gifts for humanity

Jednym z cennych darów otrzymanych od boga wiatru była kukurydza. Święty pokarm stanowiący podstawę diety ludów Mezoameryki. Co ciekawe kukurydza w formie mąki była używana, jako składnik napojów. Mieszana z kakao, które również jest darem od pierzastego węża, papryką chili i innymi przyprawami. Tworzyła podstawowy trunek używany codziennie przez Indian. Quetzalcoatl uważany był za założyciela i patrona licznych dynastii rządzących w całej Mezoameryce.^[3] Przyjął także ludzką postać Topiltzina Quetzalcoatla, który rządził Tollanem, królestwem Tolteków wyidealizowanym w mitologii Azteków. Quetzalcoatl nie umarł wraz z podbojem kontynentu. Żyje we współczesnej myśli indyjskiej i odegrał rolę w kształtowaniu się współczesnej kultury meksykańskiej. Zawędrował również w głąb współczesnych kultów. Niektórzy mormoni wierzą, że Quetzalcoatl był w rzeczywistości Jezusem Chrystusem. Według Księgi Mormona, Jezus po swoim zmartwychwstaniu odwiedził kontynent amerykański. Uczony „Świętych w Dniach Ostatnich” Brant Gardner, zauważył, że podczas hiszpańskiego podboju rdzenni Amerykanie i współczujący im księża katoliccy odczuwali presję, by powiązać wierzenia rdzennych Amerykanów z chrześcijaństwem, przez co rdzenni Amerykanie wydawali się bardziej ludzcy i mniej dzicy ⁶. Różne teorie na temat Quetzalcoatla krążą wśród wyznawców ruchu New Age, zwłaszcza od czasu publikacji książki Tony’ego Shearera Lord of the dawn: Quetzalcoatl and the Tree of Life z 1971 r.

Did the Feathered Serpent really create the world? Has our knowledge of his worship warped over the centuries? Some questions we will never find answers to. Others we will find answers with the help of science and the hard work of researchers and anthropologists.

1. https://www.researchgate.net ↩︎
2. Doyle, Diana (2004). „Aztec and Mayan Mythology”. Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute. ↩︎
3. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1337&context=jbms ↩︎
4. Restall, Mateusz (2003). Siedem mitów hiszpańskiego podboju . Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-516077-0 . OCLC 51022823 ↩︎
5. LaFaye, Jacques (1987). Quetzalcoatl and Guadalupe: The Formation of Mexican National Consciousness, 1531–1813 (New ed.). University of Chicago Press. p. 140. ISBN 978-0226467887 ↩︎
6. Wirth, Diane E. (2002) „Quetzalcoatl, the Maya Maize God, and Jesus Christ,” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies: Vol. 11 : No. 1 , Article 3 ↩︎