Quetzal

The  El Quatzel- is the  great  legendary bird of  the  ancient  Mayans  and  Aztecs, who  worshipped  the  God, Quetzalcoatl,  the Feathered  Serpent. These  civilizations  depicted  him,  wearing a  exquisite headdress,  which was created  from  hundreds of  Quetzal  feathers.  The  Resplendent  Quetzal`s  name,  comes  from  the Aztec  word,  "Quetzalli",  which  means  "precious" and "beautiful".

Exotic  Aztec  headdresses,  created  from  the  feathers of  the male  Resplendent  Quetzals,  were  worn  in  ancient  Aztec  ceremonies.  They  were  worn only  by  the  great  Aztec  Gods, Priests,  Warrior  Chiefs.

The  Aztec  tribes  would  capture  the  male  Quetzals,  and  keep  them  alive,  then  they  would  remove  their  tail  feathers, and   then  release  the  great  birds, back  into  the rainforest,  to  grow  new  feathers.  In  this  way,  they  always  had  a  growing  supply, of  beautiful  Quetzal  feathers, for  their  leaders and  ceremonies.
 

The  ancient  Mayans,  treasured  the  male's  iridescent,   emerald  tail  feathers,  they  were  more  valuable  than  gold,  and  if  anyone  was  caught  killing  their  sacred  bird,  they were  punished  instantly.



Resplendent  Quetzal  feathers  and  green  jade, were  bartered and  traded,  throughout  ancient  Central  and  South  America, the Mayan  civilization, made  them  legendary.

 

It   was  the  color,  of  "Emerald  Green", that  the  Mayans  cherished. "Emerald  Green, was  the  color  of  cool  water   springs, the color of  life  and  the  great  rainforests.  It  represented  their  great Maize  Corn  Crops, grown  on  terraces, high  in  the mountains.  Emerald  Green,  is  also known, as  a  very  healing  color.

 

The ancient  Aztecs and Mayan  Empires of  South and Central   America,  honored  the Resplendent  Quetzal, as  a  symbol  of  their independence  and  freedom.   Especially  at  a  time, when  Spanish  Conquistadores, were  arriving  from  Spain, to conquer and  rob  the  great  civilizations  of  their  gold  and  riches.
 

Legends  tell,  of   how  the  Resplendent  Quetzal  got  its  bright,  "blood  red'  chest,  in  1524,  when  the  Spanish  conquistador,  Pedro  de  Alvarado,  fought  in  battle  with  the  great   Mayan  Leader,  Tecun  Uman. 




When  the  great  Mayan  warrior  chief, was  falling  to  his  death, an  Exquisite  Emerald  Green  male  Quetzal, flew  into  the  warrior's  chest,  to  try  to  protect  him, and  when  the  protective  Warrior  Quetzal  bird, regained  his  balance, it's  chest  was   marked  with  the  great  Mayan  Chief's  crimson  blood.  To  this day, it  is  the sign  of  great  warriors. 

 

 Quetzal is the most spectacular bird in the New World ,and  is also the most sacred symbol of the highly advanced Mesoamerican civilization. To the ancient Mayas the Quetzal symbolized freedom and wealth. Freedom, because a Quetzal will die in captivity. 

A totem acting from of purest of heart and of respect,and in fainess in battle--  from the Mayans to The Aztecs, the Quetzal's Emerald Plumage and Ruby Crest equalled the brilliance of Deities, most notably Kukulkan/Quetzalcoatl "The Plumed Serpent". To kill or harm a Quetzal could equal one's fate.