Olmec Feathered Serpent

Introduction

The feathered serpent is a type of rattlesnake that can be described as either a rattlesnake or a snake with feathers on its head. It is not very common in Olmec art, though one notable example is the Monument 19 from La Venta, which shows a feathered serpent. Later versions of this creature, such as the Kukulkan and Quetzalcoatl, were more significant in Aztec and Maya culture. Despite its importance, this is still considered to be an important ancestor of the feathered serpents in Mesoamerican religion.

Physical Traits

Many of the surviving works of art from the Olme show the feathered serpent as a crested rattlesnake that usually has feathers covering its body. It is believed that these supernatural entities were the forerunners of Mesoamerican deities. Despite the importance of these animals, experts do not agree about their significance to the Olme.

Family

In his 2004 book, The Olmecs, author David Diehl states that the various works of art from the region suggest that the feathered serpent was a minor deity in the group of gods. However, he noted that the monument shown in La Venta, which is the ancestor of the feathered serpent, played a significant role in the development of post-formative societies.

Other names

The Feathered Serpent was a prominent supernatural entity or deity, found in many Mesoamerican religions. It was called Quetzalcoatl among the Aztecs, Kukulkan among the Yucatec Maya, and Q’uq’umatz and Tohil among the K’iche’ Maya.

Powers and Abilities

Early depictions of the feathered serpent in Mesoamerica have been widely distributed throughout the region, which can be used to test the interaction between people. However, it is not clear if all of the specimens found in the archaeology record are feathered.

It is believed that the feathered serpent was associated with the sky, earth, and space due to its dual nature, which includes the presence of both bird and serpent imagery. Some studies also claim that this animal was linked to religious and human sacrifice.

Modern Day Influence

The presence of the feathered serpent or the avian snake in Olmec history and the pantheon is the crux of the research being carried out even today by experts to understand more details of the Olmec civilization.