For Episode 110 of MARS MESSINA PRESENTS, we will explore the history of the ancient Aztec god, Quetzalcoatl. He is described both as a winged, plumed serpent and as a tall man with a white beard. Believed to be the Creator of the Universe, humankind, and the earth by the ancient Aztecs, they believed he would return to them. Tragically, as the Spanish conquistadors landed on their shores, the Aztecs thought that these bearded white sailors were gods rising from the waters. Instead, they discovered that these men were marauders and murderers. However, the Spaniards also carried with them crucifixes affixed with the image of a sacrificed Jesus Christ, and the Aztecs recognized this sacrificed god as their own Quetzalcoatl.
We will also talk about a more contemporary belief that Quetzalcoatl and Jesus Christ are the same god. While this cannot be proved or disproved, the comparison goes beyond modern appropriation; the Aztecs kept looking for god to return and recognized him on the Christian icon of the cross.
Before we even get to this topic, however, I will read a tweet from Justine Bateman, actress/director, on the current state and near future of Artificial Intelligence and the filmmaking process. She has startling news, news of which we should all be concerned.

BEDTIME STORIES FROM THE ACOUSTIC BOOKSHELF closes this episode with a reading of an ancient Aztec poem.

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