Who was Quetzalcoatl to the Aztecs?

Who was Quetzalcoatl to the Aztecs?

In Aztec times (14th through 16th centuries) Quetzalcóatl was revered as the patron of priests, the inventor of the calendar and of books, and the protector of goldsmiths and other craftsmen; he was also identified with the planet Venus.

What was Mictlan to the Aztecs?

Mictlan (Nahuatl pronunciation: [ˈmikt͡ɬaːn]) is the underworld of Aztec mythology. Most people who die would travel to Mictlan, although other possibilities exist. (see “Other destinations”, below). Mictlan consists of nine distinct levels.

What is Mictlan the god of?

god of death
Mict-lan-te-cuht-li) or ‘Lord of the Land of the Dead’ was the Aztec god of death and worshipped across Mesoamerica. He ruled the underworld (Mictlán) with his wife Mictecacíhuatl.

Did the Aztecs believe in Quetzalcoatl?

Among the Aztecs, whose beliefs are the best-documented in the historical sources, Quetzalcoatl was related to gods of the wind, of the planet Venus, of the dawn, of merchants and of arts, crafts and knowledge. He was also the patron god of the Aztec priesthood, of learning and knowledge.

How did the Aztecs honor Quetzalcoatl?

Quetzalcoatl’s opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile. Alternatively, he left willingly on a raft of snakes, promising to return. The Aztec turned him into a symbol of dying and resurrection and a patron of priests.

What kind of god is Quetzalcoatl?

Quet-zal-co-at) or ‘Plumed Serpent’ was one of the most important gods in ancient Mesoamerica. A mix of bird and rattlesnake, his name is a combination of the Nahuatl words quetzal (the emerald plumed bird) and coatl (serpent). Quetzalcóatl was the god of winds and rain, and the creator of the world and humanity.

What are the 9 stages of Mictlan?

Below the terrestrial level were the nine levels of the underworld, realms that the souls of the dead had to cross: the place for crossing the water, the place where the hills are found, the obsidian mountain, the place of the obsidian wind, the place where banners are raised, the place where people are pierced with …

What is Journey to Mictlan?

According to their ancient mythology, when someone died, they had to go through a journey of nine levels to arrive at Mictlán. The process, which lasted for four years, was full of obstacles. The objective was to arrive at the underworld, with Mictlantecuhtli and Mictecacihuatl, gods of death.

Why does Lord Mictlan want to sacrifice Maya?

Cruel, power-hungry and sadistic, he wished to sacrifice Maya, his wife’s demigod child to gain ultimate power and constantly sent out his gods to capture her. He did not care for his allies and sacrificed them to gain power remorselessly.

What are the 9 levels of Mictlan?

Is Mictlan the god of war?

Lord Mictlan was the God of War and the leader of all the Gods. Cruel, power-hungry and sadistic, he wished to sacrifice Maya, his wife’s demigod child to gain ultimate power and constantly sent out his gods to capture her. He did not care for his allies and sacrificed them to gain power remorselessly.

What is a Quetzalcoatl?

Definition of Quetzalcoatl : a chief Toltec and Aztec god identified with the wind and air and represented by a feathered serpent.

What happened during the battle with Mictlan?

After aid from the neighbouring kingdoms began to turn the tide of the battle, Mictlan killed and devoured the hearts of Cabrakan, Cipactli, Hura, Can, Bone, Chivo, and Xtabay to increase his power. It turned out to be so much that his body exploded into a circular pool of gold liquid.