Aztec mythology; Indian mythology -- Mexico; Mexico -- Religion
In several of the wall-paintings at Mitla, and especially in those on
the north side of Palace I, Quetzalcoatl is depicted as wearing the
insignia usually connected with him in Mexico. In one of these he wears
the Huaxtec cap with jaguar-skin markings, having the sacrificial
implements stuck in it, and the wind-mouth mask, with beard. The
snail-shell ornament adorns his shield. In another the facial insignia
is less easily seen, but the large nape-fan with which he is frequently
adorned is well depicted. Immediately behind this is a figure, which,
though partially destroyed, is still interesting because of its high
degree of conventionality. We have here the cap and panache of
Quetzalcoatl, together with the strip running from brow to eye and from
eye to jaw, which is part of the face-painting of the Moon-god.
Moreover, in the corner we have the symbol of the moon, a pot-shaped
bone, so that here, I think, we have a symbol of Quetzalcoatl as the
Moon-god. In the preceding figure, too, we have also the lunar emblem,
in this place in shape like the nose-plug of the octli-gods, but
containing the stellar eye, and flanked by balls of feather-down. It
would thus seem that the symbol has some reference to Quetzalcoatl in
his variant of the planet Venus. Moreover the eye appears as gouged
out. This eye-gouging is seen in the Maya Books of Chilan Balam, in the
case of the god Itzamná. These two latter paintings, Seler thinks, are
symbolic of the Uiyatao, or the high-priests of Mitla, who were
regarded as incarnations of Quetzalcoatl. [147]
MYTHS
The myths concerning Quetzalcoatl are numerous and conflicting. In the
first place I shall provide a careful précis of the more important,
their prolixity rendering full quotation impossible.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account