Legacy of the Plumed Serpent

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The Aztec god Quetzalcoatl is quite the intimidating creature. Early carvings and drawings depict a cross between a serpent and the quetzal bird, thus a name that means “plumed serpent.” The museum has gotten its hands on a plethora of rare objects that lend insight into the ancient Mesoamerican kingdoms and its most venerated deity. Be on the lookout for the Codex Zouche-Nuttall, a pre-Hispanic colorful recounting of Mixtec (peoples from the region of Oaxaca, Guerrero, and Puebla) history, on loan from the British Museum. It’s one of few documents that still survive.