Aztec History QUETZALCOATL

Thomas Frederiksen

-A STUDENT REFERENCE GUIDE- Copyright

Quetzalcoatl - Aztec History A Student Reference Guide

CONTACT OG BOOKS MEDIA

© OG Books Media - Quetzalcoatl A Student Reference Guide 2014. All rights re- served. Washington State, USA, Ver 1.0. Quotation of passages is allowed for article preparation and review. Text, photos, illustrations, and graphics by the author, © Thomas Frederiksen & OG Books Media 2014.

i CHAPTER 1

Forward This study guide is part of a larger work, also by the author and OG Books Me- dia, AZTEC RELIGION. We are presenting the individual chapters that pertain to many of the major deities worshipped by the Mexica, or more modernly re- ferred to as the Aztecs - in these shorter focused formats for quick reference. Of note, the term Aztec was coined by the British during the 1800s. This work at- tempts to stay true to the primary research material of the conquest period. The reference section contained at the end of this book not only contains a standard bibliography for the material presented here, but a broader starting point for a student to explore further - and research into the fascinating area of pre- Columbian religion / culture in the Central Valley of Mexico prior to the con- quest. Nahuatl translations included here are used with more modern spelling than those used for direct translations during the primary codice source material pro- duced during the 1600s. In some way this has standardized the study of the era. A necessary evil. In addition to this work on the Aztec God of Wind, Quetzalcoatl, we also offer other shorter individual works on the deities Tezcatlipoca, Huitzilopochtli, a Na- huatl to English Dictionary, and a codices reference guide. These are stand alone student study reference guides. For our full work on the Culture and Religion of the Mexica, see AZTEC RELIGION, OG Books Media. This book, Quetzalcoatl - A student reference guide, also contains a bonus chapter with detailed reference material on the fascinating Aztec yearly calendar.

Th. Frederiksen - 2014

2 CHAPTER 2

Quetzalcoatl

QUETZALCOATL(*68)- "The God of Wind"

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

3 his mouth, there is often a red mask in the form of a bird's beak. His mask identi- fies him as the god of wind and he was worshiped under the name of Ehecatl, or wind. One of the greatest deities, god of wind, light, and Venus(*69).

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(*70). Men therefore, are the children of Quetzal- coatl. He is always presented as benevolent. He wears about his neck a "Wind Jew- ell" made from a conch and his head was adorned with a jaguar(*71) bonnet or sometimes a small cap. A sharp bone protrudes from the headgear which flows the blood that nourishes his nahualli, the Quetzal bird(*72) .

He taught men science and the calendar and devised ceremonies. He discovered corn, and all good aspects of civilization. Quetzalcoatl is a representation of saint- liness. 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 (*73) is a very ancient god known to the Mayas and ancient Teotihua- can 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 to march into the Aztec lands. The Mexica 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 mer- chants in smaller towns to work and save for twenty years just to throw a large ban- quet to this most revered deity. Before the conquest, slaves would have been bathed and sacrificed for this feast.

The "Ehecailacacozcatl" - or the winds that proceed a rain downpour - were asso- ciated with Quetzalcoatl. Lightning, as it contains a serpentine shape, was also as- sociated with this god in the name Xonecuilli.

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