Diego Rivera’s Quetzalcoatl Mural

Location:  National Palace, Mexico City

Description:  Though not an archaeological ruin or artifact, this modern day mural shows the importance of the Quetzalcoatl (ket-so-ko-ot-ul) legend to the people of Mexico.  In Palacio Nacional de Mexico, Diego Rivera created a large stairway mural depicting the Mayan God Quetzalcoatl from Mexico’s ancient past.  A bearded man with blonde hair (Quetzalcoatl) is depicted in the center of the mural.  Quetzalcoatl is surrounded by dark skinned natives.  Regarding the figures above Quetzalcoatl, Mary Ann Sullivan of Bluffton University writes, “On the left, the plumed serpent rises from the erupting volcano’s mouth–a divine form of Quetzalcoatl; on the right, Quetzalcoatl assumes the form of the morning star Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, which appears near the sun at sunrise. Indian legend predicts his return to earth–an example of a common myth of eternal return.” [23]  Revelation 22:16 states, “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”