Quetzal, part two

Temple of Quetzalcoatl #3 Teotihuacan, photo by cfarivar.

The word 'quetzal' figured prominently in ancient Aztec civilization. Quetzalcoatl means "feathered serpent". (Quetzal being the beautiful bird and coatl being a word for snake or serpent). In the Aztec ruins of Teotihuacan near Mexico City you can see many examples of this god Quetzalcoatl. There are decorative serpent heads like the one above which are ringed with feathers. In this photo you can also pick out many indications of reptilian qualities: see the undulating base? And the various snakeskin-like patterns?
Teotihuacan was developing great emphasis on this feathered serpent god at around the time of Christ. At first the feathered serpent was depicted as an animal, a very snake-like animal. But as the centuries went forward the depictions became more and more anthropomorphic; the feathered serpent became more human than animal. This Aztec diety was associated with Venus and with the priesthood and with the growth of corn.

By 600 AD, the concept of a feathered serpent god had spread throughout the Mesoamerican area. In one Maya area he was called Gukumatz ("feathered serpent"). Gukumatz was one of the creator gods in the Popol Vuh. In another large Maya area he became known as Kukulcan. Can is a Maya word for snake, and kuk is a Maya word for feather. It surprises me that it was the CONCEPT of 'feathered serpent' that spread through the Mesoamerican early cultures. Rather than the actual name of the god. I would think that once Quetzalcoatl was well established among the Aztecs, there would later be a Maya god called something similar - quetzakoko or something like that. But, no. Instead, the words 'feathered serpent' were translated to new languages right along with the god.

It was Chichen Itza that most developed Kukulcan among the Maya. Their beautiful temple with the spectacular light show is dedicated to him. At the equinoxes, the sunlight travels down the serpent markings to the serpent heads at the base of the temple. It's quite amazing.

The words 'Quetzalcoatl' and 'Kukulcan' are used to refer both to the diety and to real human rulers who sometimes adopted that name. So it can get confusing. The Spanish conquerors thought they were being mistaken for the returning gods Quetzalcoatl or Kukulcan - they used that to their advantage to overtake Mesoamerica. It's not clear whether it was true, but the Spanish believed it.

The cult of the feathered serpent - whether he was called Quetzalcoatl or Kukulcan or Gukumatz - helped unify the ancient Mesoamerican area. It was a relatively calm religion, believing in animal sacrifice but not so much in human sacrifice. It was a focus of many stories and myths as early merchants travelled from one area to the other. Certain cities became big promoters of the cult and it helped them gain power and more trade. It was a primitive Chamber of Commerce sort of thing.



Related posts:
Kukulcan on a kite.
Current MY2K article.