QUETZACOALT

BY: AKATZIN CHAVEZ

QUETZALCOATLS STORY.

Quetzalcoatl or 'The Feather Serpent , is the name of an important

Mesoamerican deity whose origins can be traced back to the city
Teotihuacn, and whose worshipping reached its maximum during the Post
classic period, when several cultures; the Maya, Toltec's, Aztecs and other
polities in Central Mexico, showed evidence in the cult. He was a important
deity since he had been the creator of humans, after they were all wiped out
in a supposed, flood. Its said that after their was no more human kind he went
to the underworld to retrieve the bones of the humans to add his blood which
brought them back to life. The people usually described him as a feather
serpent or a dragon. The peoples perspective drawing of Quetzalcoatl can be
seen in the different carvings and paintings that were left in the Aztec
temples.

QUETZALCOATL'S POWERS

He was the god of wind, dawn, merchants, crafts and knowledge. As the god
of wind and rain, Quetzalcoatl holds special dominion over the weather. He
was able to travel back and forth from the Heavens to the Underworld. He was
also often considered the god of the morning star, while his twin brother Xolotl
was the god of the evening star.

QUETZALCOATL'S SIGNIFICANCE

Quetzalcoatl helped his people by protecting them and serving them. Some
myths say that he introduced them to the cultivation of maize, or corn, the
main food source in Mexico at the time. He also thought people about
astronomy, calendar making, and various crafts and was of course the patron
of merchants. In order to be affair with him, the Aztec people had to kill a
flower, butterfly or bird as a offering to him.

QUETZALCOATL REPUTATION WITH

THE OTHER GODS

Quetzalcoatl cosmic conflicts with the god Tezcatlipoca brought conflicts and
destruction to Earth. Quetzalcoatl left the earth and his people due to the
work of his old enemy, Tezcatlipoca, who wanted people to make bloodier and
gorier sacrifices than the flowers, jade, and butterflies they offered to
Quetzalcoatl. Tezcatlipoca tricked him by making him drink, pulque, which
made Quetzalcoatl drunk and then holding up a mirror that showed
Tezcatlipoca cruel face. Believing that he was looking at his own imperfect
image, Quetzalcoatl decided to leave Earth and decided to throw himself onto
a funeral pyre. As his body burned birds flew forth the flames, and his heart
went up into heaven to become Venus, the morning star .

FAMILY TREE
Mixcoatl
(Father)

Chalchihuitlicu
e (Wife)
Quetzalpetlatl
(Daughter)

Quetzalcoatl

Nanauatzin
(Son)

Coatlique
(mother)

Xolotl (Twin
brother)

WORKS CITIED
Google Image Result for http://
rahelio.homestead.com/files/plumed_serpent.jpg
Google Image Result for http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LR037JaY9E/T2jZjKEYQYI/AAAAAAAAFuA/6_v-NnlEvVA/s1600/Aztec
%2BPlumed%2BSerpent%2BQuetzzalcoatl.jpg

Google Image Result for http://

farm8.static.flickr.com/7095/7287389988_127b05fec8_m.jpg

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/q/quetzalcoatl.html

Myths Encyclopedia

Quetzalcoatl: Quetzalcoatl, Feathered Serpent God in Aztec

Religion, Mythology