Aztec and Maya ReligionAztec and Maya Religion
Question?Question?
What is the difference between polytheism and monotheism?
What is the difference between polytheism and monotheism?
Polytheism Polytheism
The belief in many gods Ancient Greeks
Zeus- the God of Thunder
Ancient Romans Mars- the God of War
The belief in many gods Ancient Greeks
Zeus- the God of Thunder
Ancient Romans Mars- the God of War
Zeus- the king of gods Zeus- the king of gods
Polytheism Polytheism
The Maya Chac- the God of Rain
The Maya Chac- the God of Rain
Native AmericansSpirituality and Nature
Native AmericansSpirituality and Nature
QUETZALCOATLQUETZALCOATL
Feathered SerpentFeathered Serpent
Quetzalcoatl Quetzalcoatl
The Feather Serpent
The of God of self-sacrifice, rebirth, human subsistence (living)
The God of the Aztec Priest Through Quetzalcoatl, Aztec priest were able to gain
knowledge and learning
Opposed human sacrifice; preferred animal sacrifice
The Feather Serpent
The of God of self-sacrifice, rebirth, human subsistence (living)
The God of the Aztec Priest Through Quetzalcoatl, Aztec priest were able to gain
knowledge and learning
Opposed human sacrifice; preferred animal sacrifice
Quetzalcoatl Quetzalcoatl
Created humans Named all of the
landmarks of the Earth Discovered maize Created fire Established the
maguey culture -- octli brewing and ceremonial drunkenness
Created humans Named all of the
landmarks of the Earth Discovered maize Created fire Established the
maguey culture -- octli brewing and ceremonial drunkenness
Tezcatlipoca
The Smoking Mirror
Tezcatlipoca
The Smoking Mirror
Tezcatlipoca Tezcatlipoca
The Smoking Mirror
He was the god of the nocturnal sky, god of the ancestral memory, god of time, and god judgment
Rival of Quetzalcoatl
The Smoking Mirror
He was the god of the nocturnal sky, god of the ancestral memory, god of time, and god judgment
Rival of Quetzalcoatl
The AztecThe Aztec
When the Aztecs adopted the culture of the Toltecs, they made twin gods of Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl, opposite and equal
When the Aztecs adopted the culture of the Toltecs, they made twin gods of Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl, opposite and equal
Quetzalcoatl vs. Tezcatlipoca Quetzalcoatl vs. Tezcatlipoca
Quetzalcoatl vs. Tezcatlipoca Quetzalcoatl vs. Tezcatlipoca
It is believed that the Toltecs had a dualistic belief system. Quetzalcoatl's opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who, in one legend, sent Quetzalcoatl into exile. Alternatively, he left willingly on a raft of snakes, promising to return.
It is believed that the Toltecs had a dualistic belief system. Quetzalcoatl's opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who, in one legend, sent Quetzalcoatl into exile. Alternatively, he left willingly on a raft of snakes, promising to return.
the morning starthe morning star
One Aztec story claims that Quetzalcoatl was seduced by Tezcatlipoca into becoming drunk and sleeping with a celibate priestess, and then burned himself to death out of remorse. His heart became the morning star
One Aztec story claims that Quetzalcoatl was seduced by Tezcatlipoca into becoming drunk and sleeping with a celibate priestess, and then burned himself to death out of remorse. His heart became the morning star
XolotlXolotl
Quetzalcoatl was often considered the god of the morning star, and his twin brother Xolotl was the evening star (Venus).
Quetzalcoatl was often considered the god of the morning star, and his twin brother Xolotl was the evening star (Venus).
TlahuizcalpantecuhtliTlahuizcalpantecuhtli
As the morning star he was known by the title Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, meaning "lord of the star of the dawn." He was known as the inventor of books and the calendar, the giver of maize (corn) to mankind, and sometimes as a symbol of death and resurrection
As the morning star he was known by the title Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, meaning "lord of the star of the dawn." He was known as the inventor of books and the calendar, the giver of maize (corn) to mankind, and sometimes as a symbol of death and resurrection
Teotihuacán Teotihuacán
TeotihuacánTeotihuacán
Teotihuacan was dedicated to Tlaloc, the water god, at the same time Quetzalcoatl, as a snake, was a representation of the fertility of the earth, and it was subordinate to Tlaloc. As the cult evolved, it became independent.
Teotihuacan was dedicated to Tlaloc, the water god, at the same time Quetzalcoatl, as a snake, was a representation of the fertility of the earth, and it was subordinate to Tlaloc. As the cult evolved, it became independent.
TeotihuacánTeotihuacán
The most elaborate representations come from the old Quetzalcoatl Temple around 200 BC, which shows a rattlesnake with the long green feathers of the quetzal.
The most elaborate representations come from the old Quetzalcoatl Temple around 200 BC, which shows a rattlesnake with the long green feathers of the quetzal.
TeotihuacánTeotihuacán
The snake represents the earth and vegetation, but it was in Teotihuacan (around 150 BC) where the snake got the precious feathers of the quetzal, as seen in the Murals of the city. The most elaborate representations come from the old Quetzalcoatl Temple around 200 BC, which shows a rattlesnake with the long green feathers of the quetzal.
The snake represents the earth and vegetation, but it was in Teotihuacan (around 150 BC) where the snake got the precious feathers of the quetzal, as seen in the Murals of the city. The most elaborate representations come from the old Quetzalcoatl Temple around 200 BC, which shows a rattlesnake with the long green feathers of the quetzal.
The MayaThe Maya
The Teotihuacán influence took the god to the Mayas, who adopted him as Kukulkán. The Maya regarded him as a being who would transport the gods.
The Teotihuacán influence took the god to the Mayas, who adopted him as Kukulkán. The Maya regarded him as a being who would transport the gods.
the fifth sunthe fifth sun
Usually, our current time was considered the fifth sun, the previous four having been destroyed by flood, fire and the like.
Usually, our current time was considered the fifth sun, the previous four having been destroyed by flood, fire and the like.
fifth-worldfifth-world
Quetzalcoatl allegedly went to Mictlan, the underworld, and created fifth-world mankind from the bones of the previous races (with the help of Chihuacoatl), using his own blood, from a wound in his penis, to imbue the bones with new life.
Quetzalcoatl allegedly went to Mictlan, the underworld, and created fifth-world mankind from the bones of the previous races (with the help of Chihuacoatl), using his own blood, from a wound in his penis, to imbue the bones with new life.
Some scholars still hold the view that the fall of the Aztec empire can in part be attributed to Montezuma's belief in Cortes as the returning Quetzalcoatl.
Some scholars still hold the view that the fall of the Aztec empire can in part be attributed to Montezuma's belief in Cortes as the returning Quetzalcoatl.
Quetzalcoatl/CortesQuetzalcoatl/Cortes
Most modern scholars see the "Quetzalcoatl/Cortes myth" as one of many myths about the Spanish conquest which have risen in the early post-conquest period
Most modern scholars see the "Quetzalcoatl/Cortes myth" as one of many myths about the Spanish conquest which have risen in the early post-conquest period
Gave instruction of music and dance
Cured eye ailments, blindness, coughs, skin afflictions; gave the priests the practice of curandero, the diagnostic casting of lots
Helped with fertility problems
Gave instruction of music and dance
Cured eye ailments, blindness, coughs, skin afflictions; gave the priests the practice of curandero, the diagnostic casting of lots
Helped with fertility problems
Sired royal lineages Established the
priesthood -- gave proper instruction of sacrifice and created the Tonalmatal
Domesticated animals.
Sired royal lineages Established the
priesthood -- gave proper instruction of sacrifice and created the Tonalmatal
Domesticated animals.
Video of the Conquista
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YzZaLPxsig
Video of the Conquista
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YzZaLPxsig
Top Related