The Aztec religion believed there were four previous
cycles since the creation event. At the beginning of the Fifth Sun Quetzacoatl,
the Feathered Serpent, descended into the underworld to gather the bones of the
humans who previously existed on the Earth in order to make the new population
of humans which continues to populate the world today. As he returned to the
world he tripped, breaking the bones he carried. This accounts for the
different sizes of humans in the world. By adding his own blood to the bones of
the previous men Quetzacoatl brought the people of the world to life.
Other names which Quetzacoatl is known are ‘Gucumatz’
among the Quiche Maya, and at Chichen Itza, which was settled by a mixture of
Toltec and Mayans, he was known as ‘Kukulkan’. All names, including
Quetzacoatl, translate into roughly the same phrase; ‘Plumed/Feathered
Serpent’. The Feathered Serpent was a god of two natures represented by the
feathers that enabled it to fly, and the serpent shape that tied it to the
ground.
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| by el_grimlock Deviant Art |
In remote antiquity the deity Quetzacoatl/Kukulkan
sailed across the Eastern Sea to Mexico in a boat without paddles, bringing to the
Maya the use of fire as well as the skill of writing, of advanced mathematics
and astronomical knowledge on which they based their calendar and religion. He
also brought with him the corn plant and taught the people the practice of
agriculture. Quetzacoatl was described as having white skin, a strong body,
broad forehead, large eyes and flowing, rounded red beard over a long, flowing
white robe. He showed people how to use fire, build a house around that fire,
taught couples to live together as husband and wife and taught the people of
the world to live together in peace. He founded cities and gave laws to the
people. After bringing these benefits to mankind, Quetzalcoatl sailed back the
way he came on a raft of serpents. The Feathered Serpent was the bringer of
civilization to mankind and was so concerned with human affairs that it has
been postulated that he was, indeed, an actual historical character, of a
combination of a dynasty of rulers whose memory lasted beyond his death,
leading to his deification.
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| painting by Susanne Isles |
The stories of Kukulkan are very specific, citing that
his group was called the “People of the Serpent” and included twenty others,
two who became gods of fish, two gods of agriculture and a god of thunder. They
described them wearing long robes open in front, cut low at the neck and
three-quarter length sleeves. They were said to have stayed ten years and then
to have returned back across the sea after the attendants changed into ‘bright
birds’. Before taking his leave, Quetzacoatl promised to return and
re-establish an era where the gods stopped their quest for human blood and
accepted sacrifices of flowers instead.
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| by gureiduson Deviant Art |
The historical figure of Quetzacoatl forbade the
practice of human sacrifice and ushered in a Golden Age of peace and culture.
In legend Quetzacoal was overcome and driven away by the malevolent god
Tezcatilpoca (Smoking Mirror) who is associated with night, darkness and the
sacred jaguar. Sometimes Tezcatilpoca appeared as a shadow or monster and he
carried an obsidian scrying stone mirror. The victory at Tula of the dark
forces over the Feathered Serpent brought back the human sacrifices in an
effort to delay the impending end of the Fifth incarnation of the world.
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| painting by Dan Staten |
The End.
