Tovar Codex, Quetzalcoatl, Aztec God of Creation

Quetzalcoatl was a god of creation, linked to fertility and resurrection. The design of the godE??s cape, hat, and loincloth represent the wings of a butterfly, symbol of fallen soldiers. Quetzalcoatl is a Mesoamerican deity whose name comes from the Nahuatl language and has the meaning of feathered serpent. Quetzalcoatl was related to gods of the wind, of 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. Quetzalcoatl was one of several important gods in the Aztec pantheon along with the gods Tlaloc, Tezcatlipoca and Huitzilopochtli. To the Aztecs, Quetzalcoatl was, as his name indicates, a feathered serpent, a flying reptile (much like a dragon), who was a boundary maker and transgressor between earth and sky. He was also a creator deity having contributed essentially to the creation of Mankind. The Tovar Codex (16th century) contains detailed information about the rites and ceremonies of the Aztecs. Illustration taken from a 19th century transcript of Juan de Tovar's Historia de la benida de los yndios apoblar a Mexico (the Codex Tovar)

Picture No

12696096

Media ID

47671816

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3157px x 4425px (2.4MB)

Credit

LOC/Jay I. Kislak Collection/Science Source/Mary Evans