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Legend of Quetzalcoatl

© Virginia Marin

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Quetzalcoatl

Shrouded in the midst of time,
A garden of perfection stood;
Garden gods holding court--
Ruling air, sea, sun and streams;
Mortal man here once did live
Driven out, the portals closed, For copying to be, the gods of old.

A very strong likeness to the Biblical Garden of Eden exists in this legend: a man, a woman, gods, a garden; sin, punishment, abandonment, expulsion; love, forgiveness, redemption, a gift.

Once, shrouded in the midst of time there lived with other people, in a beautiful garden, a special man and woman who were the garden keepers. They tilled the soil and looked after the elements of the gods--the water, land and air. The garden's economy thrived under their skill and the gods, who made their home in the garden, were very pleased to hold court in the presence of this man and woman.

The male and female enjoyed a happy life in the garden, but one day knowledge came to them that something was missing. "If only we could be like unto the gods we would have perfect and complete happiness in our garden." The man agreed with his mate.

The pair conspired to steal the knowledge and power of the gods. But the garden had a spy who, out of faithfulness to the gods, reported the couple's plot.

For attempting to become like unto the gods, the man and the woman were driven from the garden. Their banishment was total isolation from all beauty and living things.

Now, Quetzalcoatl, an Aztec deity, thought the punishment was too harsh. In compassion, he presented to them, at the beginning of their exile, the seeds of quachahuatl, which produced the cacao tree, from whence came the food of the gods--chocolate.

Quetzalcoatl (Kate-tzal-ko-ahtl') was very much loved by all of the earthly inhabitants of the garden. It was through his benevolence that the earth was blessed with plenty. There was maize enough for every mouth; calabashes were as thick as a giant's leg; and cotton grew in every color of the rainbow. He instructed the people in the use of agriculture, metals and other arts. He was, indeed, a benefactor of their race.

Quetzalcoatl, whose name means feathered serpent, was known to the people as the good god of the garden. A great variety of colorful birds filled this garden of Mesoamerica, and their songs echoed happiness.

One bird in particuar, the Quetzal, was Quetzalcoatl's bird of enchantment. Quetzal provided Quetzalcoatl with the brilliant green, red and yellow plumage seen in the god's distinctive dress.

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