Quetzalcoatl: A Feathered Serpent Deity of Mesoamerica

The origins of the plumed serpent Quetzalcoatl's worship trace back to the pre-Columbian civilizations of Central Mexico, particularly among the Aztecs and the Maya.

The name "Quetzalcoatl" itself is derived from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, combining "quetzal," referring to the colorful bird renowned for its beautiful plumage, and "coatl," meaning serpent. This amalgamation reflects the duality in Quetzalcoatl's nature as both a feathered creature and a snake. The Maya used the name Kukulkan to refer to the same feathered serpent god.

According to Aztec tradition, Quetzalcoatl was one of the creator deities responsible for shaping the world and humanity. His association with the morning star and evening star (the planet Venus) further underscored his significance as a celestial and terrestrial force.

The motif of the plumed serpent became ubiquitous in Mesoamerican art and icononography, including for both the Aztec and the Maya peoples. Many archaeological sites and sacred sites related to ancient Mesoamerica feature this classic Maya serpent iconography alongside symbols related to the people's rituals and ceremonies.

In classic Aztec and Maya serpent imagery, Quetzalcoatl appears as a fully zoomorphic feathered serpent, representing a combination of avian grace and serpentine power. In Aztec religion, he bridged the gap between the heavens and the earth, at various times also serving as a wind god, the god of Venus and the patron god of the Aztec priesthood.

In some interpretations of Aztec mythology, Quetzalcoatl played the role of a war serpent, symbolizing power and authority in battle. The Aztecs also associated Quetzalcoatl with life and death, the god emblematic of the natural world's cycles of renewal, as well as of the rebirth stories that pervade ancient Mesoamerican culture.

Feathered serpents figure prominently in the religious beliefs and cultural practices of ancient Mesoamerican societies.

Throughout ancient Mexico, ceremonies dedicated to Quetzalcoatl took place according to the Aztec ritual calendar. People adorned ceremonial artifacts with serpent motifs and painted elaborate murals in his temples to depict the serpent rising in celestial splendor.

Tenochtitlan, a pre-Columbian city that may have been the largest in the Americas at its peak, 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 stands where the Aztec capital once did, with the historic city center over what was formerly the temple.

Originally built around 1325, the Templo Mayor was a focal point of human sacrifice as well as other rituals and activities of religious devotion. According to the Aztec ritual calendar, a human sacrifice was necessary multiple times throughout the year, such as by decapitation or removal of the person's heart, to appease the gods and ensure the empire's continued prosperity.

There are numerous legends about Quetzalcoatl throughout Mesoamerican mythology. These include tales of his eventual departure from the mortal realm, which are reflected in the Aztec people's feathered serpent iconography.

In one tradition, the serpent god threw himself on a pyre beside the ocean only to be reborn as the planet Venus. In another, he rode eastward on a raft of snakes, leaving the mortal world behind.

One of the most enduring legends surrounding the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl is the prophecy of his return, akin to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ in Christian theology. According to Aztec culture, Quetzalcoatl would one day return from the east to live again among his people, bringing them prosperity and enlightenment.

Some historians assert a belief in the god's homecoming caused the Aztec ruler Montezuma II to open up his kingdom to Hernan Cortes, who led the Spanish conquest into the Americas in 1519. He may have believed that Cortes was the returning god Quetzalcoatl or that Cortes and his troops were Quetzalcoatl's divine messengers.

The Spanish conquest contributed significantly to the fall of the Aztec empire, bringing diseases like smallpox and leading to periods of war and great instability.

In 1521, during the Battle of Tenochtitlan, Cortes and his army ultimately overthrew the capital city after 93 days of fighting. This established the first colony of New Spain and ensured Aztec culture would never be the same again.

Despite the devastating effects of the Spanish conquest and the subsequent suppression of the local people's indigenous beliefs and practices, the influence of Quetzalcoatl has endured.

Images of the Aztec god, depicted in temple reliefs and codices, have become synonymous with the Mesoamerican cultures. From the stone figures in the once teeming metropolis of Teotihuacan to the carvings in the iconic ruins of Chichen Itza, the plumed serpent left an indelible mark on the collective consciousness of the region.

The legacy of the god Quetzalcoatl extends even beyond the confines of ancient Mexico. You can find his influence in the blend of Catholicism and indigenous spirituality that characterizes many modern-day Mesoamerican communities.

The depiction of Quetzalcoatl as a god with a serpent head alongside the veneration of human saints and the Virgin Mary reflects the resilience of indigenous culture in the face of colonial oppression.

This article was created in conjunction with AI technology, then was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.