The Religion of the Toltecs and their Customs
- The main characteristics of Toltec religion are the following. 1- Polytheistic religion . Belief in multiple gods. 2- Shamanic religion . ...
- The Toltec gods. Like many of the pre-Hispanic peoples of Mesoamerica, the Toltecs had many gods whom they worshiped.
- Religious customs. Human sacrifices were customary religious customs within the Toltecs. ...
- Esoteric knowledge (The 4 agreements) Toltec esoteric knowledge was inherited and transmitted from generation to generation. ...
What were the religious beliefs of the Toltecs?
They had a rich religious life and the apogee of their civilization is marked by the spread of the cult of Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent. Toltec society was dominated by warrior cults and they practiced human sacrifice as a means of gaining favor with their gods.
What is the Toltec spirit?
A modern movement led by writer Miguel Ruiz is called "Toltec Spirit." In his famous book "The Four Agreements," Ruiz outlines a plan for creating happiness in your life. Ruiz' philosophy states that you should be diligent and principled in your personal life and try not to worry about things you cannot change.
What is the new age Toltec belief system?
New Age Toltec Beliefs. Very loosely stated, this new "Toltec" spiritual belief system focuses on the self and one's relationship to things one cannot change. This modern spirituality has little or nothing to do with religion from the ancient Toltec civilization and should not be confused with it.
What is Toltec spirituality?
Very loosely stated, this new "Toltec" spiritual belief system focuses on the self and one's relationship to things one cannot change. This modern spirituality has little or nothing to do with religion from the ancient Toltec civilization and should not be confused with it.
What is Toltec wisdom based on?
Toltec wisdom arises from the same essential unity of truth as all the sacred esoteric traditions found around the world. Though it is not a religion, it honors all the spiritual masters who have taught on the earth.
What gods did Toltec worship?
They worshiped only one god, whom they called Quetzalcoatl ("quetzal-feathered serpent"), a name also given to the highest priest of the deity.
What are the Toltecs known for?
The advent of the Toltecs marked the rise of militarism in Mesoamerica. They also were noted as builders and craftsmen and have been credited with the creation of fine metalwork, monumental porticoes, serpent columns, gigantic statues, carved human and animal standard-bearers, and peculiar reclining Chac Mool figures.
What is a Toltec way of life?
Ruiz explains: "They considered the manner in which you lived your life as your art. The Toltec believed that life is a dream and that we are always dreaming, even when awake. Using a modern-day analogy, the Toltec concept of a dream is similar to starring in our own movie, following a script we write ourselves.
What are the 4 Agreements of life?
The Four Agreements are:Be Impeccable With Your Word.Don't Take Anything Personally.Don't Make Assumptions.Always Do Your Best.
What did the Toltecs eat?
They relied on food such as Maize, Avocados, beans, squash, potatoes, tomatoes, chiles, cotton, fruits, and cacao beans. Maiz was the most important, women would grind maize into a meal by rubbing the maize on grinding stone. The kinds of meats that the Toltec;s would eat were rabbits, deer, turkey, birds and rodents.
What did the Toltecs wear?
The body coverings of male Toltecs fall into eight cate- gories: belts, loincloth, hipcloth, aprons, quechquemitl, feathered capes, skirts, and tunic/armor. Belt: Almost all male Toltecs are depicted wearing some type of belt.
What are the four Tezcatlipocas?
The four Tezcatlipocas were the sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl, lady and lord of the duality, and were the creators of all the other gods, as well as the world and all humanity.
What was unique about the Toltec empire?
The civilization flourished from around 900-1150 A.D. when Tula was destroyed. The Toltecs were legendary sculptors and artists who left many impressive monuments and stone carvings behind. They were also ferocious warriors dedicated to conquest and the spread of the Cult of Quetzalcoatl, greatest of their gods.
Are Toltecs Aztecs?
The "Toltec Empire" was a semi-mythical origin story told by the Aztecs. Aztec oral histories described the Toltec capital Tollan as having buildings made of jade and gold. The Toltecs were said to have invented all the arts and sciences of the Aztecs, and their leaders were the noblest and wisest of people.
How would you best describe the legacy of the Toltecs?
Legacy. The Toltec name carried a certain prestige and they were very highly regarded by the Maya and the Aztecs, in particular, who seem to have copied many aspects of Toltec religious practices and art and looked on the Toltec period as a golden era when such wonders as writing, medicine, and metallurgy were invented ...
What were the Toltec beliefs?
Toltec Religious Beliefs. The Toltec religion surrounded two gods. The first god was Quetzlcoatl, the plumed serpent god. Quetzlcoatl represented many ideas, including, but not limited to, learning, fertility, holiness, gentility, culture, philosophy, as well as good.
What is the Toltec myth?
It is much like basketball, as the goal is to get the ball through the hole on the wall, but one cannot touch the ball with one's hands. The Toltec peoples left no evidence of their creation myth, although it is believed that they had a general belief of life after death.
What was the second god in the Toltecs?
The second god in the religion was Tezcatlipoca, the smoked mirror. Texcatlipoca was the opposite of Quetzlcoatl, as he represented war, tyranny, and evil. In addition to Quetzlcoatl and Tezactlipoca , the Toltecs had many other gods, though little is known of what their names were and what they represented. Their religion thus was polytheistic.
What is the Toltec tradition?
The Toltec tradition is a philosophy or way of life that taught me how to make choices that result in happiness. This philosophy is based on the key concept that we don’t really see life at all; what we actually see is our filter system, which is composed of our beliefs, expectations, agreements, and assumptions.
What did the ancients believe about the nature of life?
The ancient ones understood the illusionary nature of reality and used the universal laws of nature to create a life based on unconditional love and self-discovery. They considered all of life to be part of the great mystery and knew there was no way to separate the secular from the sacred or science from spirit.
What are the benefits of connecting with your divinity?
It is possible, that inner sense of peace and the ability to be happy are two of the many side benefits of learning how to connect with your own divinity. The ancient Hawaiians have a saying that there are many paths to the top of the mountain but the view is the same once you get there. There are many paths that will assist you in connecting ...
When we realize our emotions are our own creation, we can use them to set ourselves free of our limiting beliefs?
When we realize our emotions are our own creation we can use them to set ourselves free of our limiting beliefs. We can use the events in our life to illuminate our filter system. Instead of focusing our attention on our emotions and trying to change the events in our life we can change the way we think.
Archaeology
Some archaeologists, such as Richard Diehl, argue for the existence of a Toltec archaeological horizon characterized by certain stylistic traits associated with Tula, Hidalgo and extending to other cultures and polities in Mesoamerica.
History of research
Tempo Tlahuizcalpantecuhtl (Pyramid B) is the largest and best known structure at the archaeological site of Tula. Atlantean figures are situated on the apex of the pyramid.
Further reading
Bancroft, Hubert Howe (1876). The Native Races of the Pacific States of North America: Primitive History. Vol. 5. D. Appleton.
Where are the Toltec temples?
Toltec Temples. Most of the temples of Toltec culture that have been discovered and studied are to be found at the ancient city of Tula , which served as the capital of the Toltec civilization. Interestingly, the city shares a similar design and layout to the Mayan city of Chichen Itza.
What is the nature of Tlaloc?
Tlaloc had a bit of a dual nature. On the one hand, he was a benevolent provider of rain to sustain the land. On the other, he was the creator of storms and destructive natural forces. When Quetzalcoatl and his brother created the world, Tlaloc was born when the two creators killed the ancient monster, Cipactli.
What did Tezcatlipoca do to lure him out of the water?
To lure him out of the water, Tezcatlipoca cut off his own foot to use as bait. After they killed the monster, he replaced this foot with an obsidian mirror or a snake. Note in this image of Tezcatlipoca his leg is missing and is replaced by a snake-like prosthetic.
Which pyramids did Tula have?
Tula had several pyramids, which served as temples to these various gods, however exactly which temples served which gods is still up for minor debate. Pyramid C is the largest of these temples and has only partially been excavated.
Who is the god of rain, water, storms, and agriculture?
This is one of the more common depictions of Quetzalcoatl, the plumed serpent. Tlaloc: Tlaloc was the god of rain, water, storms, and agriculture. Tlaloc had a bit of a dual nature.
Who was the god of maize?
Centeotl: Centeotl was the god of maize, or corn, perhaps the most important crop in Mesoamerican culture. While Quetzalcoatl gave the gift of maize to humankind, Centeotl has overseen its continued growth and fertility as Lord of the Maize.
Who was the goddess of youth, love, and beauty?
Xochiquetzal: Goddess of youth, love, and beauty, Xochiquetzal was no push-over among the Toltec gods. To show off just what kind of power she wielded, she once turned a priest into a scorpion after first seducing him. She was also the creator of humans and was mother to the first generation of gods.
What is the Toltec spirit?
A modern movement led by writer Miguel Ruiz is called "Toltec Spirit.". In his famous book "The Four Agreements," Ruiz outlines a plan for creating happiness in your life. Ruiz' philosophy states that you should be diligent and principled in your personal life and try not to worry about things you cannot change.
What did the Toltecs do?
The warriors were organized into orders representing animals such as jaguars and gods including Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca. Toltec warriors wore headdresses, chest plates, and padded armor and carried a small shield on one arm. They were armed with short swords, atlatls (a weapon designed to throw darts at high velocity), and a heavy curved bladed weapon that was a cross between a club and an ax.
What did the Toltecs trade with?
Although the Toltecs were not on the same scale as the Ancient Maya with regard to trade, they nevertheless did trade with neighbors near and far. The Toltecs produced objects made from obsidian as well as pottery and textiles, which Toltec merchants might have used as trade goods. As a warrior culture, however, much of their incoming wealth may have been due to tribute than trade. Seashells from both Atlantic and Pacific species have been found at Tula, as well as pottery samples from as far away as Nicaragua. Some pottery fragments from contemporary Gulf-Coast cultures have also been identified.
Where did the Quetzalcoatl spread?
Adoration of Quetzalcoatl spread from Tula to as far as the Maya lands of the Yucatan. Later, the Aztecs, who considered the Toltecs the founders of their own dynasty, included Quetzalcoatl in their pantheon of gods. 07. of 10.
Where did the Aztecs come from?
Long after the fall of the Toltec civilization, the Aztecs came to dominate Central Mexico from their base of power in the Lake Texcoco region. The Aztecs, or Mexica, culture revered the lost Toltecs.
Where are the Chac Mool statues?
In the ceremonial plaza, there is a tzompantli, or skull rack, where the heads of sacrificial victims were placed.
Who was the founder of Tula?
In the historical record of the period, a story is told that Ce Atl Quetzalcoatl, the founder of Tula, got into a disagreement with the followers of the god Tezcatlipoca regarding how much human sacrifice was necessary to appease the gods.
Why is Don Miguel considered spiritual?
It is Spiritual because it is about living your Life.
What is the challenge of a spiritual warrior?
Don Miguel refers to some of these challenges throughout the book. However, in the excitement of the Truth in what don Miguel writes , people often overlook where he points out that this endeavor is not easy. The agreements may be simple, but he never says they are easy to keep.
What are the hidden assumptions people often make when adopting the Four Agreements?
One of the hidden assumptions that people often make when adopting the Four Agreements is about time. Without awareness the mind makes the assumption that they should immediately be able to keep the Four Agreements 100% of the time. The mind completely ignores that there are already existing agreements and habits of taking things personally that have been in place for years.
What is the Toltec system?
The Toltecs refer to this mechanism of the mind–the Judge, Victim and belief system they’re based around–as the parasite. It’s part of the mind that feeds off thoughts and emotions, and which has turned on the host, causing immense suffering.
How to be free from the truth?
Think with objectivity and discriminate what is true and what is false. Bear in mind that truth tastes of freedom, because the truth alone sets you free. Keep on fighting. Learn to dismiss all thoughts, beliefs and feelings that bind you to suffering and limitation.
What is the essential nature of Ruiz?
A Distorted View of Reality. According to Ruiz, our essential nature is “light”, or awareness. “Everything is made of light,” Ruiz writes in “The Four Agreements”. “Everything that exists is one living being. Everything in existence is a manifestation of the one living being we call God. Everything is God.”.
What does John Milton say about the mind?
It’s not so difficult to believe when you think about it. As John Milton wrote: “The mind its a place of itself and can make a heaven of hell, or a hell of heaven.”. Almost all the great wisdom traditions teach that the secret to a life of freedom is learning to tame the mind. Modern psychologists concur that mindset is everything.
Is perfection unattainable?
Life being what it is, perfection is unattainable. There’s always a gulf between who you are (your self-concept) and who you want to be (your self-ideal). The greater this gulf, the more that you suffer. Sometimes other people punish you for not measuring up in their eyes or the eyes of ‘society’.
Do Toltecs dream?
Toltecs believe that we don’t just dream when we’re asleep at night. We’re dreaming all the time. While there is an objective reality — the tangible world of objects as perceived by everyone — human beings also inhabit another, subjective reality. This subjective reality exists in our minds.
What are the characteristics of the Toltec culture?
The Characteristics of the Toltec culture Are those basic and essential elements that identify the Toltecs, Indigenous That inhabited the south region of the present Mexico before the arrival of the Spaniards to the American continent. The Toltec culture is one of the cultures inhabiting the region of Mesoamerica Whose origins date back to ...
Why is the Toltecs called the Toltecs?
This name is because this population was located in the current region called Valle de Tula, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo. The Toltecs gave birth to the great indigenous Mexican civilizations and were the ancestors of the Aztec apogee. The Toltec culture was considered over the years as the Teachers builders And the Aztecs proclaimed themselves ...
Why do authors diverge in what was the domain and the scope that had Toltec culture, in the geographic and
This is due to the fact that most of the knowledge about the Toltec culture is through legends counted later, which makes it impossible to be certain of the behavior.
What was the Toltec economy?
Like most indigenous cultures and later Western cultures, the Toltec culture economy was based predominantly on agriculture. Through it the Toltecs cultivated the food with which to provide to all the vast town inhabiting in the valley of the Tula.
How many lords were there in the Toltecs?
The seven lords who ruled the tribe were established at first in Tollantzinco. However, twenty years later they leave the territory and settle down to fourteen leagues, founding the city of Tollan-Xicocotitla, or more simply, Tula. The Toltec monarchy extended for 384 years and retained eight monarchs or tlahtoques.
How long did the Toltecs rule?
The Toltec monarchy extended for 384 years and retained eight monarchs or tlahtoques. Once this period ended, the Toltec culture went into decline and eventually diluted and plunged into the new majority civilizations as was the Aztec.
Why did the Aztecs declare themselves descendants of the Toltecs?
The Toltec culture was considered over the years as the Teachers builders And the Aztecs proclaimed themselves descendants of the Toltecs, so as to boast of their deeds and achievements. Toltec culture left considerable artistic creations that have allowed to date its existence.
The Toltec Civilization
Religious Life at Tula
- Toltec society was highly militaristic, with religion playing an equal or secondary role to the military. In this, it was similar to the later Aztec culture. Still, religion was extremely important to the Toltecs. The kings and rulers of the Toltecs often served as priests of Tlaloc as well, erasing the line between civil and religious rule. Most of the buildings in the center of Tula had religious f…
The Sacred Precinct of Tula
- Religion and gods were important to the Toltecs. Their mighty city of Tula is dominated by the sacred precinct, a compound of pyramids, temples, ball courts, and other structures around an airy plaza. Pyramid C: The largest pyramid at Tula, Pyramid C has not been completely excavated and was extensively looted even before the Spanish arrived. It shares certain characteristics wit…
The Toltecs and Human Sacrifice
- Ample evidence at Tula shows that the Toltecs were dedicated practitioners of human sacrifice. On the western side of the main plaza, there is a tzompantli, or skull rack. It is not far from Ballcourt Two (which is probably not a coincidence). The heads and skulls of sacrificed victims were placed here for display. It is one of the earliest known tzompantlis, and probably the one th…
The Gods of The Toltecs
- The ancient Toltec civilization had many gods, chief among them Quetzalcoatl, Tezcatlipoca, and Tlaloc. Quetzalcoatl was the most important of these, and representations of his abound at Tula. During the apogee of the Toltec civilization, the cult of Quetzalcoatl spread throughout Mesoamerica. It even reached as far as the ancestral lands of the Maya, where similarities betw…
Sources
- Charles River Editors. The History and Culture of the Toltec. Lexington: Charles River Editors, 2014. Cobean, Robert H., Elizabeth Jiménez García and Alba Guadalupe Mastache. Tula.Mexico: Fondo de Cultura Economica, 2012. Coe, Michael D, and Rex Koontz. 6th Edition. New York: Thames and Hudson, 2008 Davies, Nigel. The Toltecs: Until the Fall of Tula. Norman: the Univers…
Overview
The Toltec culture was a pre-Columbian Mesoamerican culture that ruled a state centered in Tula, Hidalgo, Mexico during the Epiclassic and the early Post-Classic period of Mesoamerican chronology, reaching prominence from 950 to 1150 CE. The later Aztec culture saw the Toltecs as their intellectual and cultural predecessors and described Toltec culture emanating from Tōllān [ˈtoːlːaːn] (Na…
Origins of society at Tula
While the exact origins of the culture are unclear, it likely developed out of a mixture of the Nonoalca people from the southern Gulf Coast and a group of sedentary Chichimeca from northern Mesoamerica; the former of these likely composed the majority of the new culture and were influenced by the Mayan culture centered in Teotihuacan. During Teotihuacan's apogee in the Early Classic period, these people were tightly integrated into the political and economic syst…
Archaeology
Some archaeologists, such as Richard Diehl, argue for the existence of a Toltec archaeological horizon characterized by certain stylistic traits associated with Tula, Hidalgo and extending to other cultures and polities in Mesoamerica. Traits associated with this horizon are include the Mixtec-Puebla style of iconography, Tohil plumbate ceramic ware, and Silho or X-Fine Orange Ware c…
History of research
One of the earliest historical mentions of Toltecs was by the Dominican friar Diego Durán, who was best known for being one of the first westerners to study the history of Mesoamerica. Durán's work remains relevant to Mesoamerican societies, and based on his findings Durán claims that the Toltecs were disciples of the "High Priest Topiltzin." Topiltzin and his disciples were said to h…
See also
• Civilizations portal
Notes
1. ^ Smith, Michael Ernest (2012). The Aztecs (3rd ed.). Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 35–36. ISBN 978-1-4051-9497-6. OCLC 741355736.
2. ^ Iverson, Shannon Dugan (1 March 2017). "The Enduring Toltecs: History and Truth During the Aztec-to-Colonial Transition at Tula, Hidalgo". Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory. 24 (1): 90–116. doi:10.1007/s10816-017-9316-4. ISSN 1573-7764.
Further reading
• Bancroft, Hubert Howe (1876). The Native Races of the Pacific States of North America: Primitive History. Vol. 5. D. Appleton.
• Carrasco, David (1982). Quetzalcoatl and the Irony of Empire: Myths and Prophecies in the Aztec Tradition. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-09487-1. OCLC 0226094871.
External links
• Media related to Toltec at Wikimedia Commons