What culture does Quetzalcoatl come from?

modern Nahuatl pronunciation (help·info)), in honorific form: Quetzalcōātzin) is a deity in Aztec culture and literature whose name comes from the Nahuatl language and means “Precious serpent” or “Quetzal-feathered Serpent”.

Were there Mexican Vikings?

A mural found in the ancient ruins of Chichen Itza in the Yucatan may also provide some evidence of Viking explorers traveling to Mexico. The mural, which dates back to between 600 and 900 C.E., appears to show people of Aztec, Mayan, and Scandinavian ancestry.

Who was mistaken for the god Quetzalcoatl?

As an Aztec deity, he was one of four sons of the creator god Ometeotl, associated with the wind god, and the patron god of arts and knowledge. A persistent myth about the conquistador Hernan Cortés being mistaken for Quetzalcoatl is almost certainly false.

Why was Quetzalcoatl Worshipped?

The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. Mesoamerican priests and kings would sometimes take the name of a deity they were associated with, so Quetzalcoatl and Kukulcan are also the names of historical persons.

What is the prophecy of Quetzalcoatl?

An unnerving series of coincidences led Montezuma to believe that perhaps Cortés was the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, who had promised to return one day to reclaim his kingdom. Quetzalcoatl, “the feathered serpent,” stood for the solar light, the morning star. He symbolized knowledge, arts, and religion.

Did the Aztecs think Cortes was Quetzalcoatl?

Many within the Aztec Empire came to believe that Cortés was Quetzalcoatl the god who would return to overthrow the god Tezcatlipoca, who demanded human sacrifice. Cortés was aided by an Indian woman La Malinche or Malintzin, who became an invaluable interpreter for and mistress and confidant of Cortés.

What are Quetzalcoatl powers?

Quetzalcoatl possesses the conventional powers of the Mexican Gods. He has superhuman strength (Class 50 perhaps) and endurance plus mystical abilities enabling him to fly and command ambient elemental energies, such as having control over the air and wind.

Is Quetzalcoatl good or bad?

Quetzalcoatl was neither good nor bad to the Aztecs. As the creator, he was responsible for both life and death, so the people used human sacrifice to satisfy him and gain favor. Quetzalcoatl was also responsible for bringing maize, a life-sustaining food in the region.