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South American Dragons
South America
There were many Mesoamaerican civilizations that have mysteriously disappeared in South America. There were the Aztecs, Olmec, Zapotec, Chimu, Mixtes, Incas, Toltecs, and Moches. There are also other civilizations that are still around today. Snake gods were very prevalent in this area, they symbolized fertility and the elements to these people. Although they were snake gods of some kind some seem to be more draconic in nature.
Quetzalcoatl
To the Mayans he was known as Kuhulkan, the the Aztecs, Quetzalcoatl. He was the colored scaled and brightly feathered serpent god. Of all the peoples his image has shown up repeatedly in carvings and drawings on their temples and pottery. Quetzalcoatl, the God of the morning and evening star, the inventor of the calendar, the fire bringer, and the rain maker, and most of all he was the only one of his kind that did not demand human sacrifice. The carvings of the Serpent God are depicted as having a a large feathered neck, sharp teeth, and a serpentine feathered body. He was essentially a good God that brought many gifts to his people and he was often seen flying high in the sky, the sun reflecting in beautiful prisms from the multi-colored feathers that adorned his body. He was also known to take the form of a man and the sun. It is said that Quetzalcoatl tried to protect his people from the evil gods and their destruction but in the end he failed and merely disappeared, as did the people who worshipped him.
^Mayans^
Temple of Jaguars
Carvings of jaguars and snakes are most prevalent in the Mayan carvings and stone structures however in the Temple of Jaguars there are two pillars that depict neither serpent nor jaguar. The creatures carved upon the stone columns resemble more dragon like creatures. With serpentine bodies and horns carved upon their heads and prominent eye ridges they definitely stand out from the other normal snake carvings in the temple.
^Olmecs and Mayans^
Hurakan
The Mayans and the Olmecs believed that the winds of the hurricane and the earth shaking of the earthquake were due to the prescence pf the Dragon named Hurakan. In fact the name hurricane comes from this creature. In carvings he is depicted as having only one hind leg, the leg of destruction, and two forelegs, one facing up and the the other facing down, representing the spinning and dancing force of hurricane winds.
^Aztec^
The Feathered Serpent Pyramid IN Teotihuacam, Mexico a great temple was built to the Feathered Serpent Quetzalcoatl. Called the Feathered Serpent Pyramid, it towers over the land and contains many underground passages. Of course the feathered image of Quetzalcoatl is seen but a second image is carved upon the temple that is much different from the other creatures. It seems to be a rather crocodilian face with fangs like the teeth of a jaguar and two upraised bumps, possibly horns on its head. The nostrils are carved far apart and it's eyes are close together giving the impression that the face should be elongated. It seems to be a crocodile type god but with the body of a serpent and apart from the elongated face it has no other crocodilian features.
Coatlcue
A fierce goddess represented as having two dragon like heads and wearing a skirt of snakes, perhaps like the Africans, South America had it's own version of the hydra. It is sometimes shown as having human form and represents the duality of nature, somewhat like the asian yin/yang.
^Inca^
Mama Pacha
An ancient Earth Goddess of the Inca, she is depicted as a huge dragon which causes earthquakes.
Miscellaneous Dragons
Mboi-Tu'I
The Guarani people from Paraguay had a friendly god known as the protector of amphibians,aquatic animals, and flowers. He was portrayed as having the head of a parrot and the body of a serpent.
Amphitere
Associated with the wind and rain this mexican dragon has the wings of a bird and the tail of a serpent.
Capacti
Capacti was said to have been the dragon that created the earth, and is known as the dragon of creation.
There is till much that is not known about the peoples of South America and their beliefs but we have representations of their gods and goddesses and even the dragons that they believed took care of them. Perhaps the dragons, as the people have disappeared into the mists of time but the mysteries still fuel the imagination for what might have been and what could still be.
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