The reasons for his departure are unclear. One legend tells that one day Quetzalcoatl was
tricked into acts of lewdness by a rival who had disguised an intoxicating potion as medicine and
convinced him to drink plenty of the draught. When he awoke the next day to find what he had
done he was greatly shamed by his actions and left the Mayan shores, but vowed to one day
return and reclaim his kingship. Another legend holds that he was needed elsewhere and sailed
away northward and there are others giving various reasons as to why he left.
For what ever the reason, Quetzalcoatl eventually left South America but upon his departure he
said to the Mayans that he would return to their shores one day and told them to look for his
arrival on the day of ‘nine wind’ (April 22nd) in the year of the Reed. A reed year occurs once
every 52 years in the Mayan Calendar. Most legend say that when Quetzalcoatl left on his raft of
feathered serpents he sailed back to his home, a land that lay to the north while his followers shot
flaming arrows into the air to mark their way as he left, leaving fiery cross-like patterns in the
sky. Some stories say that he flashed into the heavens to become the morning star.
When Cortez arrived on those same shores in 1519 it was in the year of the reed, and not only
that but it was April 22nd, the very day that Quetzalcoatl was predicted to return. On that most
fateful of days Montezuma’s scouts had hastily run to deliver news to him that sentries along their
eastern coast had seen floating Palaces propelled by billowing white clouds arriving at their
shores in the morning mists. The clouds had large fire red crosses on them and flames erupted
from the bellies of the palaces followed by the sounds of roaring thunder. They told the king that
when the palaces had at last come to land all kinds of strange creatures had emerged from their
bellies: Some half man and half metal, others with six legs and two heads, some with strange
sticks that poured out fire and death and with them were huge and savage beasts that foamed at
the mouth. Yet all these creatures paid homage to one figure that stood in the center, a man all
clad in metal, bearded and fair-skinned. It could only be Quetzalcoatl!
For the Mayans had never seen sailing ships, cannons, guns and men in armor or on horseback
before. (To the Mayans, a man on a horse may well appear at first to be a creature with six legs
& two heads, one that foamed at the mouth). They believed that such amazing things could only
possibly mean the return of their great teacher and leader and they were very anxious not to
offend him and welcome him in a manner befitting such a great one. Montezuma himself was
quite apprehensive about the return of Quetzalcoatl because when he had left, he had sworn to
take vengeance on those who had betrayed him and since his departure the Mayans had turned
from his teachings somewhat and begun barbaric practices and even human sacrifices were now
commonplace. Montezuma knew that Quetzalcoatl would be greatly angered by such activity and
expected him to exact retribution.
When Cortez arrived the Mayans hastily presented him with the crown of Quetzalcoatl which
was a huge plumed and golden headdress and they bowed before him. The decorative headdress
was immediately sent back to Spain and can still be found today in the Spanish Museum.
Had it not been the 22nd of April on a Reed Year perhaps more precautions would have been
taken in approaching the strangers, but the Mayans were unwilling to appear rude to a God.
Never could the poor Maya have been more sadly mistaken, to their peril, ruin and death.
Quetzalcoatl
So who exactly was Quetzalcoatl, this ancient and most mysterious of benefactors? Numerous
legends tell us that a person called Manco Capac was the legendary founder of the South
American civilization. The event is said to have begun with a ceremony on Lake Titicaca and the
presentation by Quetzalcoatl/Viracocha of a golden wand to Manco Capac with who was then
told to go forth and found the civilization. This legend indicates that Quetzalcoatl did not just
arrive and improve the Mayan civilization; he was there at its inception. In fact this legend even
suggests that the entire thing was probably Quetzalcoatl’s idea in the first place!