Quetzalcoatl (2)
Quetzalcoatl
a Mexican divinity, represented by the green-feathered serpent, is the god of the air. He was, while on earth, a high-priest in the city of Tuta, and was so immensely rich that his houses were built with nothing but gold and precious stones. He was, at the same time, a legislator of incredible wisdom; his commands were published from the top of a mountain by a herald whose voice could be heard at a distance of three hundred miles. It was to him that useful inventions were due; he was, besides, a favorite of the gods, who, for his sake, loaded the land with blessings of all kinds. In that time an ear of corn was of such a size that it was no light burden for a strong man. But as the country, thlough him, grew happy to excess, and as the gods were well aware that such unmixed felicity was not to the advantage of the people, they advised him to emigrate. He did so; went to Cholula, where the people chose him for their ruler. His reign was as prosperous as could be expected. After his death he was worshipped as god of the air. Almost all peoples, even those hostile to Cholula, recognised his divinity and built temples in his honor.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Quetzalcoatl (2)
an idol or god of the Mexicans, particularly worshipped by all persons concerned in traffic. Forty days, before the feast of this god, the merchants purchased a well-shaved slave, who during that time represented the deity, spending his time in dancing and rejoicing, andlon the day of the festival was sacrificed to the deity at midnight, his heart being first offered to the moon, and then laid before the idol. This deity was, worshipped under another name at Cholula, where he was looked upon as the god of the air, the founder of the city, the institutor of penance, and the author of sacrifices. He was represented sitting on a kind of pedestal, habited in a cloak ornamented with red crosses. His devotees drew blood from their tongues and ears to procure his favor and before going to war sacrificed to him five boys and as many girls of three years of age.