What is Quetzalcoatl?

Answer 1

Quetzalcoatl the Myth

God
Quetzalcoatl is the god of human sustenance, penitent, self-sacrifice, re-birth and butterflies. He is patron of the city Cholula and of the trecena to 1 Ocelotl. In his iconography, his body is painted black in accordance with the priesthood he established.

However, Quetzalcoatl originated as a water god. The first myth he appears in, he is called "Precious Serpent" and was "the spirit of the waters which flowed along the winding bends of rivers" (Fernandez, 68, 1984). Sometime afterwards, the idea of a snake representing both the Terrestrial and Celestial comes about; and later developments allow for Quetzalcoatl to emerge. This is first evidenced at Teotihuacan circa 3rd century AD; however, there always remains the possibility that Monument 19 at La Venta refers to him.

-- Ehectal:

Depending on who you read, Quetzalcoatl either picks up Ehectal early on in his development or during the Late Postclassic. As a separate deity, Ehectal is the wind god and is commonly associated with Tlaloc. He is the one that sweeps the path for his arrival. He is patron of the second trecena, 1 Jaguar. In his amalgamated form, Ehectal-Quetzalcoatl, he is often found in the myths relating to Creation and the deeds that would label him a cultural hero. His temples were circular with conical roofs and often had serpent maws acting as a doorway.

Answer 2

Quetzalcoatl is a WHO, not a what. He's an Aztec god; the name means "Feathered Serpent"; he was a peaceful deity who taught the Aztec people many things and then, after being tricked by his twin brother into doing something unspeakable, sailed away on a raft of snakes, vowing to return. He was born in the year 1 Reed and left in the year 1 Reed (ie 52 years later) and when the Spanish came it was the year 1 Reed again, which is why they were confused and thought they might have been associated with their lost god.

Answer 3

Quetzalcoatl ("feathered serpent" or "plumed serpent") is the Nahuatl name for the Feathered-Serpent deity of ancient Mesoamerican culture. In Mesoamerican myth Quetzalcoatl is also a mythical culture hero from whom almost all mesoamerican peoples claim descent. In these myths he is often described as the a divine ruler of the mythical Toltecs of Tollan who after his expulsion from Tollan travelled south or east to found new cities and kingdoms. Many different Mesoamerican cultures, e.g. Maya, K'iche, Pipil, Zapotec claim to have been the only true lineage of Quetzalcoatl and thus of the mythical Toltecs.

Answer 4

Quetzalcoatl is the god of human sustenance, penitent, self-sacrifice, re-birth and butterflies.
Quetzalcoatl originated as a water god.
Myth has it that Quetzalcoatl did the following for humanity:

Named all of the landmarks of the Earth (mountains, seas, etc.)
Discovered maize
Created fire (in the guise of Mixcoatl)
Established the maguey culture -- octli brewing and ceremonial drunkenness
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 ( a sort of medical divination )
Helped with fertility problems
Sired royal lineages
Established the priesthood -- gave proper instruction of sacrifice and created the Tonalmatal (Book of the Destiny Days)
Domesticated animals.

Answer 5

Quetzalcoatl was an Aztec god...I think the god of rain or something...when the spanish arrived the Aztecs thought the ship was Quetzalcoatl because he had left them and said he would return.

Answer 6

the feathered serpent god of the Aztec and Toltec cultures.
A god of the Toltecs and Aztecs, one of the manifestations of the sun god Tezcatlipoca and represented as a plumed serpent

Answer 7

im not sure but i think it has something to do with mesoamerican civilization.