Why is the pyramid called the Temple of the Feathered Serpent?
The pyramid takes its name from representations of the Mesoamerican “feathered serpent” deity which covered its sides. These are some of the earliest-known representations of the feathered serpent, often identified with the much-later Aztec god Quetzalcoatl.
What is the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent made of?
… Citadel stands the Temple of Quetzalcóatl (the Feathered Serpent) in the form of a truncated pyramid; projecting from its ornately decorated walls are numerous stone heads of the deity. The temple walls were once painted in hematite red. Excavations of the Citadel were first carried out during the period 1917–20.…
What was discovered under the Temple of the Feathered Serpent at Teotihuacan?
Lakes of mercury and human sacrifices – after 1,800 years, Teotihuacan reveals its treasures. In 2003, a tunnel was discovered beneath the Feathered Serpent pyramid in the ruins of Teotihuacan, the ancient city in Mexico.
When was the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent built?
Completed in the early third century A.D., the pyramid is flanked by two apartment compounds where the city’s rulers may have lived. The initial construction phase of the Temple of the Feathered Serpent appears to have been marked by a mass burial.
What caused the fall of Teotihuacan?
It’s unclear why Teotihuacan collapsed. Around 600 A.D., major buildings were deliberately burned and artworks and religious sculptures were destroyed, suggesting an uprising from the poor against the ruling elite.
What does the feathered serpent represent?
The double symbolism used by the Feathered Serpent is considered allegoric to the dual nature of the deity, where being feathered represents its divine nature or ability to fly to reach the skies and being a serpent represents its human nature or ability to creep on the ground among other animals of the Earth, a …
What God is represented as a Feathered Serpent?
Quetzalcóatl
Quetzalcóatl, Mayan name Kukulcán, (from Nahuatl quetzalli, “tail feather of the quetzal bird [Pharomachrus mocinno],” and coatl, “snake”), the Feathered Serpent, one of the major deities of the ancient Mexican pantheon.
Who believed in the Feathered Serpent?
The Feathered Serpent deity was important in art and religion in most of Mesoamerica for close to 2,000 years, from the Pre-Classic era until the Spanish conquest. Civilizations worshipping the Feathered Serpent included the Olmec, Mixtec, Toltec, Aztec, who adopted it from the people of Teotihuacan, and the Maya.
What did the temple of the Feathered Serpent look like?
The Temple of the Feathered Serpent has fine stylized depictions of that deity in a style which includes apparent influences of Teotihuacan and Maya art. The high taluds of the pyramid bear relief carvings that depict towns that paid tribute to Xochicalco as well as several seated figures that look Mayan.
Where is the Feathered Serpent Temple in Teotihuacan?
The Temple of the Feathered Serpent is located at the southern end of the Avenue of the Dead, Teotihuacan’s main thoroughfare, within the Ciudadela complex. The Ciudadela (Spanish, “citadel”) is a structure with high walls and a large courtyard surrounding the temple.
Who was the Aztec god of the Feathered Serpent?
These are some of the earliest-known representations of the feathered serpent, often identified with the much-later Aztec god Quetzalcoatl. “Temple of the Feathered Serpent” is the modern-day name for the structure; it is also known as the Temple of Quetzalcoatl and the Feathered Serpent Pyramid.
Why was the Xochicalco pyramid important to the Mayans?
The high taluds of the pyramid bear relief carvings that depict towns that paid tribute to Xochicalco as well as several seated figures that look Mayan. It has been speculated that Xochicalco may have had a community of artists from other parts of Mesoamerica .