The Toltec religion was polytheistic, they worshiped Quetzalcóatl, god of the wind and agricultural fertility, Tlaloc , god of rain, lightning and fertility, and Chalchiuhtlicue , goddess of waters. Characteristics of the Toltec civilization Toltec facts
What did the Toltecs believe in?
Overview of the Religion The Toltec religion surrounded two gods. The first god was Quetzlcoatl, the plumed serpent god. Quetzlcoatl represented many ideas, including, but …
Who was the most important god of the Toltecs?
Quetzalcoatl: Perhaps the most important god to the Toltecs, and probably one of the most well-known Mesoamerican gods, was Quetzalcoatl, the creator god. Quetzalcoatl was …
What is the meaning of Tolteca religion?
The Toltec gods Quetzalcoatl. He is one of the most complex and fascinating gods of all Mesoamerica. He was regarded as a reptilian... Tezcatlipoca. In Nahuatl Means steaming black mirror, so it is related to jade mirrors that were used for mystical and... Centeoltl. In the mythologies of ...
Was there a Tlaloc cult in the Toltecs?
What were the Toltecs called?
The Nahuatl word for "Toltec," for example, can mean "master artisan" as well as "inhabitant of Tula, Hidalgo," and the word "Tollan" (modernly known as "Tula") can refer specifically to Tula, Hidalgo, or more generally to all great cities through meaning, "place of the reeds."
What is Toltec spirituality?
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.
Who gods did the Toltecs worship?
QuetzalcoatlThey worshiped only one god, whom they called Quetzalcoatl ("quetzal-feathered serpent"), a name also given to the highest priest of the deity.
Are Aztecs Toltecs?
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.
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 were 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.
Did Toltecs believe in god?
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.
What was Aztecs religion?
polytheistMATOS MOCTEZUMA: The Aztec religion was primarily polytheist. They had different gods, male and female. The sun god was Tonatiuh. There were many deities, and they were revered in monthly festivities with rich offerings.
Why did the Toltecs worship Quetzalcoatl?
The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. Mesoamerican priests and kings would sometimes take the name of a deity they were associated with, so Quetzalcoatl and Kukulcan are also the names of historical persons.
Did the Toltecs build pyramids?
The warrior Toltecs conquered the region around 1200 and rebuilt the pyramid as their ceremonial center. The Aztecs later claimed it as their own, dedicating it to the god Quetzalcoatl.
What is a Toltec warrior?
The Toltecs were religious warriors who spread the cult of their God, Quetzalcoatl, to all corners of their Empire. The warriors were organized into orders representing animals such as jaguars and gods including Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca.
What language did the Toltecs speak?
Nahuatl languageNahuatl language, Spanish náhuatl, Nahuatl also spelled Nawatl, also called Aztec, American Indian language of the Uto-Aztecan family, spoken in central and western Mexico. Nahuatl, the most important of the Uto-Aztecan languages, was the language of the Aztec and Toltec civilizations of Mexico.
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 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 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 is the game called that people sacrificed their hearts?
In addition to sacrifice, the religion included a game called tlatchli.
What is the idea of man becoming a god?
The more common idea is that they felt that their eternal self, the soul, would leave this earth and add itself to many souls. The many souls would remain forever, not in a heaven-like place, but rather as one whole being together.
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.
What was the god of rain and storms?
Tlaloc, the god of rain and storms, was also considered important as the Toltecs relied on rain to grow their crops. One of the most important crops, maize, was also ruled over by a god: Centeotl. Finally, goddess of love and beauty, Xochiquetzal, holds a special importance as the creator/mother of humankind.
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.
What was the high point of the Aztec civilization?
By 1150, their civilization went into decline and Tula was eventually destroyed and abandoned. The Mexica (Aztec) culture considered ancient Tollan (Tula) the high point of civilization and claimed to be descendants of the mighty Toltec kings.
What was the Toltec civilization dominated by?
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 religion?
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 was the religious life like in Tula?
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.
Where did the Quetzalcoatl cult spread?
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 between Tula and Chichen Itza include the majestic Temple to Kukulcán, the Maya word for Quetzalcoatl.
What are the structures in Tula?
Other Religious Structures in the Sacred Precinct: In addition to the pyramids and ball courts, there are other structures in Tula which had religious significance. The so-called " Burned Palace ," once thought to be where the royal family lived, is now believed to have served a more religious purpose.
What was the sacred precinct of Tula?
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.
What was the Toltec religion?
The Religion of the Toltecs and their Customs. The Religion of the Toltecs It was polytheistic - that is, a believer of many gods - in which Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca emerged as the most important of all. However, the Toltec culture was characterized by having a military caste that was the most important, displacing the sacerdotal caste ...
What religion did the Toltecs practice?
2- Shamanic religion . This means that they did not practice their religious practices in a permanent place of worship as a temple, but did so in various places according to circumstances, especially in outdoor ceremonies. 3- Pantheistic Religion . In pantheism God is also nature and the universe, so the Toltecs worshiped heaven, water, earth, ...
What does the Toltec god symbolise?
He is the son of the first divine couple and brother of Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca. It symbolizes the greenery of nature that returns every year and represents the gold workers. You may be interested The 30 most important Toltec gods .
What did the Toltecs worship?
In pantheism God is also nature and the universe, so the Toltecs worshiped heaven, water, earth, the sun as a fertilizing force, and so on. 4- Dualistic religion . Their main gods are antagonistic and opposed: Quetzalcoatl is the opposite of Tezcatlipoca. 5- Esoteric religion . They kept secret some of their religious beliefs and practices.
What was the Toltec culture?
However, the Toltec culture was characterized by having a military caste that was the most important, displacing the sacerdotal caste that used to exercise administrative and political control in many of the ancient civilizations. The Toltec culture Preceded the Aztec in Mesoamerica And existed between 900 and 1200 AD.
Why did Xipé Totec sacrifice himself?
This is due to the legend that says that at the beginning of the creation Xipé Totec sacrificed himself by tearing out his own eyes and skinning alive so that the corn could germinate and his people could survive. He is the son of the first divine couple and brother of Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca.
What does Tezcatlipoca mean?
Tezcatlipoca. In Nahuatl Means steaming black mirror, so it is related to jade mirrors that were used for mystical and divinatory purposes. He is the lord of heaven and earth, source of life, guardianship and protection of man, source of power and happiness, owner of battles, omnipresent, strong and invisible.
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 is Tula located?
Although the Toltec City of Tula is located to the north of present-day Mexico City and the post-Maya city of Chichen Itza is located in the Yucatan, there's an undeniable connection between the two metropolises.
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.
Toltecs of Tula
- The rather extensive archaeological site of Tula de Allende in the modern Mexican state of Hidalgo, 75 kilometers north-northwest of Mexico City, has been excavated professionally since 1940. Its main ceremonial center, Tula Grande, flourished from about 950 to 1200 ce (dates esta…
Toltec-Maya
- Similar to Tula-Toltec culture in its essential expression, Toltec-Maya also seems to have been restricted to a single, extremely important place: Chichén Itzá in north-central Yucatán. The great resemblances between Chichén Itzá and Tula, 850 kilometers away, as the crow flies, are a commonplace in Mesoamerican archaeology, although the site of origin of these particular trait…
Toltecs of Tollan Xicocotitlan
- Although identified by Jiménez Moreno with Tula de Allende, the famous Tollan Xicocotitlan referred to in colonial sources is not this town alone. As epithet or name, the word Tollan has been used to designate other famous cities, and the description of this Tollan corresponds—if to any place on earth at all—more to Classic Teotihuacan than to Tula de Allende. As described in t…
Tolteca Chichimeca
- As a rule, central Mexican ethnic groups have ample traditions regarding their migration to their present homes. Most of these refer to a place of origin at Chicomoztoc (Seven Caves), and they count Tollan among their stopping places during their long migration. This holds true for the inhabitants of Cholula (Cholollan) in the Puebla valley. They report in the monumental Historia T…
Bibliography
- No special treatment of Toltec religion in any form has yet been published. The most comprehensive study of the Toltecs, written from an ethnohistoric point of view but making full use of available archaeological data, is Nigel Davies's The Toltecs (Norman, Okla., 1977). The subsequent period and developments are covered in detail by the same author in The Toltec Her…
Overview
The Toltec culture was a pre-Columbian Mesoamerican culture that ruled a state centered in Tula, Hidalgo, Mexico in the early post-classic period of Mesoamerican chronology (ca. 900–1521 AD). The later Aztec culture saw the Toltecs as their intellectual and cultural predecessors and described Toltec culture emanating from Tōllān [ˈtoːlːaːn] (Nahuatlfor Tula) as the epitome of civilization; in the Nah…
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.
Archaeology
Some archaeologists, such as Richard Diehl, argue for the existence of a Toltec archaeological horizoncharacterized 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." Topiltzinand his disciples were said to h…
See also
• Civilizations portal
Notes
1. ^ 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.
2. ^ Berit (2015), p. .
3. ^ Smith (2007), p. .
External links
• Media related to Toltec at Wikimedia Commons
The Toltec Civilization
Religious Life at Tula
The Sacred Precinct of Tula
The Toltecs and Human Sacrifice
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 Ma...
New Age Toltec Beliefs
Sources