Revue Magazine 2010-11 (November)

When the Spanish conquistadors visited the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán, they
found the rulers, priests and dignitaries wearing elaborate headdresses made from
quetzal feathers. Bernal Díaz, who chronicled the conquest of “New Spain,” described
how the great Montezuma, when he came to meet Cortés, was shaded by a
huge canopy of quetzal feathers.
by death they who killed the bird with the
rich plumes because it was not found in
other places and these feathers were of great
value because they used them as money.”
The Maya had a symbolic system of colors:
black for weapons, obsidian; yellow for food,
corn; red for war; and blue for sacrifice. But
the royal color was green, the color of Kukul
—the serpent bird.
Highland Indians were allowed to trap
the birds and remove their tail feathers
(which grow back each year) but they were
forbidden to kill or keep them captive. After
the cacao bean, which was used as a form
of currency, the commodity that probably
contributed most to the native’s wealth were
these feathers.
When the great Mayan cities fell the
highlanders continued to trade quetzal
feathers with the Aztec capital of Tenoch-
titlán, where Mexico City now stands.
When the Spanish conquistadors visited
the Aztec city they found rulers, priests and
dignitaries wearing elaborate headdresses
made from quetzal feathers.
Bernal Díaz, who chronicled the conquest
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