How was Quetzalcoatl depicted in Aztec art?
In Aztec culture, depictions of Quetzalcoatl were fully anthropomorphic. Quetzalcoatl was associated with the wind-god Ehecatl and is often depicted with his insignia: a beak-like mask.
What was the purpose of the Temple of Quetzalcoatl?
The Temple of the Feathered Serpent was not only a religious center but also a political center. The rulers of Teotihuacán were not only the leaders of men; they were also the spiritual leaders of the city. The two mansions near the pyramid are thought to have been occupied by powerful families.
What did Quetzalcoatl look like?
In addition to his guise as a plumed serpent, Quetzalcóatl was often represented as a man with a beard, and, as Ehécatl, the wind god, he was shown with a mask with two protruding tubes (through which the wind blew) and a conical hat typical of the Huastec people of east-central Mexico.
What happened to the Temple of Quetzalcoatl after 1521?
After the fall of Tenochtitlan in 1521, the lands controlled by the Aztecs became part of the Spanish empire. All the temples, including the Templo Mayor, were sacked, taking all objects of gold and other precious materials.
What is the theme of Quetzalcoatl?
One of the most important themes in the myth of Quetzalcoatl is the idea of a god as a friend and helper to humans. Aside from giving humans life, Quetzalcoatl taught humans all the basic skills they needed to function as a civilization, such as growing crops and learning the cycles of nature and the stars.
How big is the Quetzalcoatl pyramid?
The largest pyramid, and the largest monument ever constructed, is the Quetzalcóatl Pyramid at Cholula de Rivadavia, 101 km (63 miles) south-east of Mexico City. It is 54 m (177 ft) tall, and its base covers an area of nearly 18.2 ha (45 acres).
What was the highest form of art in Aztec culture?
The highest form of art in the Aztec culture was poetry. The Aztecs wrote lots of poems. Many of their poems were about the gods and mythology, but others were about everyday life. They called poetry “flower and song”.
How did Quetzalcoatl help humans?
The god in human form taught them to cultivate corn seeds, to work with jade, gold and obsidian, how to dye cotton, the art of astronomy, he enriched their writing, promoted the worship of the gods and forbade human sacrifices, teaching them self-sacrifice by pricking themselves with maguey thorns instead.
Where is the Temple of Quetzalcoatl?
Teotihuacan
Located in the rear center of the great Ciudadela compound, the Temple of Quetzalcoatl is one of the largest pyramidal structures at Teotihuacan. In volume, it ranks only third after the Pyramid of the Moon and the Pyramid of the Sun (Cowgill 1983:322).
Where is the temple of Quetzalcoatl at Teotihuacan?
The Temple of Quetzalcoatl and the Tezcacoac Located in the rear center of the great Ciudadela compound, the Temple of Quetzalcoatl is one of the largest pyramidal structures at Teotihuacan. In volume, it ranks only third after the Pyramid of Moon and the Pyramid of the Sun (Cowgill 1983: 322).
What happens to the Templo Mayor in Tenochtitlan?
After the destruction of Tenochtitlan, the Templo Mayor, like most of the rest of the city, was taken apart and the area redeveloped by new structures of the Spanish colonial city. The Temple’s exact location was forgotten. By the 20th century, scholars had a good idea where to look for it.
What was the most sacred site in Tenochtitlan?
This temple was the most sacred site of the city of Tenochtitlan and its twin temples were devoted to the gods Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc. It was accompanied with various other buildings including pyramids, ornamental walls, and gathering places etc.
What was the name of the Aztec temple?
Another famous Aztec temple was the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon which, as the name suggests, was devoted to the gods of the sun and moon, Tlaloc and Chalchihuitlicue. This, just like the Great Pyramid of Cholula, was built before the Aztecs but nonetheless served as a sacred temple for the Aztecs.