From: jraynor@minerva.cis.yale.edu (John Raynor (GD 1998))
Subject: Re: Pagan Statue
Date: Tue, 14 Jun 1994 16:34:41 GMT

Izzy (hxgzlanei@unl.ac.uk) wrote:
> By Aztec standards the worship of Quetzecoatl was quite blood-free
> as there was only one celebration involving blood sacrifices per
> year. Other Gods (and Goddess?) 'received' victims at dozens of
> celebrations per year.  Izzy

Indeed, the Aztec myth which explains why Quetzelcoatl was driven into
"exile" in the first place is tied directly to his distaste for human
sacrifice.  It seems that, at one point in his career, Quetzelcoatl
assumed human force, and preached a rather ascetic religion based upon
restraint, regular severe penances, and personal purity - with
relatively trivial sacrifices, such as snakes, flowers, and
butterflies.  Tezcatlipoca, the Obsidian Mirror, regarded this new
religion as a threat, and assumed the form of a sorcerer.  He tricked
Quetzelcoatl into getting drunk, and then forced him look into his
magic mirror.  The image in the mirror was, of course, badly distorted
(deformed and aged) and Quetzelcoatl, already shaken, fell rather
badly from grace, so to speak, and was either driven out or fled in
disgrace (he sailed away, to the east, aboard a raft made from living
serpents).  I'm not sure if I have all of the details right (I don't
have a book of Aztec mythology with me as I write), but I know the
general theme is right...
                                                          - J. Raynor