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