Inca mythology facts for kids
Inca mythology is full of exciting stories and legends. These tales helped the Inca people understand their world and their beliefs. They explained how the world was created and how people should live.
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Inca Beliefs and the Cosmos
The Inca people, also called the Runa, deeply connected their beliefs to the stars and the sky. They watched the Milky Way and planets from Cusco, their capital city. These observations helped them understand their farming seasons. Farming was super important because it fed everyone. Their stories often showed how the stars, planets, and farming cycles were all linked together.
After the Spanish conquest of Peru by Francisco Pizarro, many Inca records were lost. Spanish officials burned many of the Inca's written records. Today, what we know about Inca beliefs comes from a few sources. These include writings by priests, pictures on Inca pottery, and the myths that survived among the native people of the Andes. Some experts, like Gary Urton, even think the Quipus (knotted cords) might have been a way to record information.
How the Inca Empire Began
The Inca had many legends about how their empire started. Manco Cápac was a legendary founder of the Inca Dynasty. The stories about him are sometimes different.
- In one story, Manco Cápac was the son of the god Viracocha.
- Another legend says he came out of Lake Titicaca. He was brought up by the sun god Inti.
- A third myth says Manco Cápac and his brother Pacha Kamaq were sons of the sun god Inti. Manco Cápac was seen as a god of fire and the sun.
One popular myth tells that Manco Cápac and his sister-wife, Mama Ocllo, came from Lake Titicaca. They settled on the Isla Del Sol (Island of the Sun). According to this tale, the sun god sent them to Earth. They came out of a cave called Puma Orco at Paqariq Tampu. They carried a golden staff. They were told to build a Temple of the Sun where the staff sank into the ground. This would honor their father, Inti. During their journey, one of Manco's brothers, Ayar Cachi, was sealed inside a cave. This happened because his wild behavior angered the local tribes.
Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa wrote that eight original Inca men and women came from a hill called Tambotoco. This hill was near Cuzco. The men were Manco Capac, Ayar Auca, Ayar Cachi, and Ayar Uchu. The women were Mama Ocllo, Mama Huaco, Mama Ipacura, and Mama Raua.
In another version, these siblings came from the waters of Lake Titicaca. This story might have been created later. It could have been a way to bring powerful Aymara tribes into the Inca Empire.
Important Inca Gods and Goddesses
The Inca Empire allowed the cultures they conquered to keep their own religions. So, many different gods were worshipped across the empire. Many of these gods had similar roles or powers.
- Apu (Great Lord): A god or spirit of mountains. Each important mountain had its own Apu. People made sacrifices to them.
- Amaru (Sacred Serpent): A serpent or dragon god. It was often shown as a winged serpent with crystal eyes. Amaru symbolized wisdom and was linked to water for farming. It was also connected to the underworld and earthquakes.
- Ataguchu: A god who helped create the world. He created divine beings and sent Guamansuri to Earth.
- Axomamma (Mother of Potatoes): The goddess of potatoes.
- Catequil (Thunder God): The god of day and good. He was also the god of thunder and lightning in the northern highlands of Peru.
- Cavillace: A virgin goddess who gave birth to a son. She was ashamed of the father, Coniraya, the moon god. She ran to the coast of Peru and turned herself and her son into rocks.
- Ch'aska (Morning Star): The goddess of dawn, twilight, and beauty. She was seen as the "Venus star" because she was so bright.
- Chuychu (Rainbow): The beautiful rainbow god. He was important to nobles because he represented beauty.
- Coniraya: The moon deity.
- Copacati: A lake goddess.
- Ekeko: The god of the hearth and wealth. People made dolls of him and put miniature versions of their wishes on the doll. They believed this would make their wishes come true.
- Huallallo Carhuincho (Yellowish Mountain Range): The god of fire. He was seen as evil and ate children.
- Huari: A giant god of war. He could also turn into a man, a snake, or wind.
- Huaytapallana: A god important during dry seasons. In some legends, she was a beautiful woman who became a snow mountain after a fierce battle between gods.
- Hurkaway: A guardian snake in the underworld. It is believed to be Urcaguary, the god of metals and treasures.
- Illapa (Thunder and Lightning): The god of thunder, lightning, and rain. He was also the god of war. Illapa was shown as a powerful man with golden clothes. He carried a sling to make storms and a golden club for thunder and lightning. He was the third most important god after Viracocha and Inti.
- Inti (Sun): The sun god. He was the source of warmth and light and protected the people. Inti was considered the most important god. Inca Emperors were believed to be direct descendants of the sun god.
- Ka-ata-killa: A pre-Inca moon goddess worshipped near Lake Titicaca.
- Kolash (Human from the Nest): The god of birds and their sounds. He was born as a bird and later became human.
- Kon (The Boneless God): The god of rain and wind from the south. He was light and had a human form, sometimes with a feline face. Kon created the first humans.
- Mallku (Spirits of the Mountains): A god representing the spirit and strength of mountains. He appeared as a powerful Condor.
- Mama Allpa (Mother Earth): A fertility goddess.
- Mama Koka (Mother of Coca Leaves): The goddess of health and happiness. The coca plant came from her after she died.
- Mama Nina (Mother of Fire): The goddess of light, fire, and volcanoes.
- Mama Quinoa (Mother of Quinoa Grain): The goddess of quinoa grain. The Inca worshipped her at the start of each planting season.
- Mama Qucha (Sea Mother): The goddess of the sea and fish. She protected sailors and fishermen. She was one of the four elemental mothers.
- Mama Pacha (Mother Earth): Also known as Pachamama. She was a sacred being, the mother of hills and people. She protected nature and provided water and food. She was the wife of Pachakamaq.
- Mama Killa (Mother Moon): The goddess of marriage, festivals, and the moon. She was the wife and sister of Inti.
- Mama Sara (Maize Mother): The goddess of grain, especially maize. Strange maize plants were sometimes dressed as dolls of Mama Sara.
- Mama Wayra (Mother of Wind): The goddess of air and winds. She protected birds and was seen as a purifying goddess.
- Pacha Kamaq (The Earth Maker): A powerful creator god linked to fire, the sky, clouds, and earthquakes. People believed a single movement of his head could cause huge disasters. He was worshipped for his power to predict the future and control Earth's movements.
- Paryaqaqa (Stone Falcon): The god of water and storms. He was born as a falcon and later became human. He was also seen as a creator god.
- Paricia: A god who sent a flood to punish disrespectful humans. Possibly another name for Paryaqaqa.
- Piguerao: The god of night and evil.
- Qhaxra-kamayuq (The One Who Takes Care of Sowing): A guardian god who protected homes from thieves.
- Qhoa (Flying Feline): A large feline god who lived in the sky. He could bring rain, storms, rainbows, and hail. Qhoa was shown as a winged puma or jaguar.
- Qoyllur (Star): The goddess of the stars and a deity of light. She was always with Mama Killa, the moon.
- Rímac and Chaclla: Two brother gods who became a river and rain to end a drought.
- Sorimana: A pre-Inca god of volcanoes and earthquakes.
- Supay: The god of death and ruler of the underworld (Uku Pacha). He was also seen as the personification of all evil. However, he was considered both evil and good. Supay could appear as a demon-like figure or a beautiful human.
- Tulumanya: The first rainbow, from which the Amaru was born.
- Urcaguary (Mountain of Uncharted Places): The god of metals, jewels, and underground treasures. He lived under mountains, protecting treasures.
- Urquchillay: The god of cattle and domestic animals. He was worshipped by herders to protect their animals.
- Urpihuachay (The One That Gives Birth to Pigeons): The creator goddess of birds and fishes. She was sometimes seen as the wife of Pachakamaq.
- Vichama: The god of death, vengeance, and war.
- Viracocha (Great Lord, Eternal Light, Source of Life, Knowledge, and Creator of the World): The god of everything. He was believed to have come from the sea and created the sun, moon, and stars. He also created humanity by blowing on stones.
- Wasikamayuq (The One Who Takes Care of Home): The guardian god of the home.
- Yanañamca and Tutañamca: Twin gods of darkness and night. They ruled the world before other gods took over.
Key Inca Beliefs
- Mama Uqllu was the sister and wife of Manqu Qhapaq. She was believed to have taught the Inca people how to spin thread.
- Mamaconas were like nuns who lived in temple sanctuaries. They dedicated their lives to Inti and served the Inca ruler and priests. Young noble girls or those with special beauty could become Mamaconas.
- Unu Pachakuti was a great flood. It was sent by Viracocha to destroy giants who built the ancient city of Tiwanaku.
- A Wak'a was a sacred object. This could be a mountain, a mummy, or even a special rock.
Important Places in Inca Mythology
Inca beliefs about the world were divided into three levels, or Pachas:
- Uku Pacha ("the lower world"): This was located inside the Earth.
- Kay Pacha: This was the world where humans live.
- Hanan Pacha ("higher world"): This was the world above us, where the sun and moon lived.
The natural world was a huge part of Inca mythology. Many important natural places in the Inca Empire were linked to myths. For example, Lake Titicaca was seen as the lake where the world began. Many Andean mountain peaks also had special roles in myths. For instance, some stories say people were created from corn kernels scattered by the gods on a mountain.
The Inca also included the stars in their legends. Many constellations were given names and stories, like the Great Llama and the Fox. Even sounds from nature were important. In the creation myth of Viracocha, the sound of the god's voice was very powerful. Since myths were told orally, the sounds and echoes of a place were important for sharing these stories.
Inca Symbols
The Chakana (or Inca Cross) is a three-stepped cross. Some modern writers say it symbolizes the "Tree of Life" or "World Tree." They believe a shaman could travel through its central axis to the underworld or to the higher world of the gods. This journey helped them understand problems on Earth. The snake, puma, and condor are animals that represent these three levels. However, experts do not fully agree on this meaning of the chakana.
Why Inca Myths Were Important
Mythology served many purposes in the Inca Empire. Myths helped explain natural events. They also gave people a way to understand their world. For example, a famous origin myth explains how the Inca Empire began in Cusco.
In this myth, four men and women came out of a cave near Cusco. They began to settle in the Cusco Valley. The Hualla people already lived there. The Hualla grew coca and chili peppers, which the Inca saw as plants of wilder people. The Inca fought the Hualla fiercely and won. The myth says the first Inca people planted corn, a main part of their diet, where they defeated the Hualla. This story helped the Inca claim their right to rule the Cusco Valley and later, much of the Andes.
By creating this myth, the Inca strengthened their power. The story made the Hualla seem less advanced than the Inca. The Inca's victory and their development of corn farming showed they were the rightful rulers. They could make the land productive. These myths were celebrated in many festivals. For example, corn festivals were held every year during harvest. During these, the Inca leaders were celebrated along with the corn and the god Inti. This linked the ruling Inca to the gods and showed them as providers of food. This way, myths helped justify the special position of the Inca elite in their huge empire.
Inca mythology continued to be important even after the Spanish took over. It was used to resist Spanish rule. Many Inca myths criticized the greed of European invaders. Some stories told of foreigners destroying valuable objects. The Catholic Church was also often criticized. For example, a story about a Priest and Sexton showed the unfairness of a Catholic Priest towards his indigenous people. These myths show how Inca stories were used to challenge Spanish power.
Today, Inca mythology is still a strong force in Andean communities. After countries like Peru gained independence from Spain, they looked for their own origin stories. In the early 1900s, there was a new interest in indigenous heritage. References to Inca mythology can be clear, like Inti on the Argentine flag. Other references are more subtle. For example, in the late 20th century, the Peruvian government used Inca myths about Pachamama (Mother Earth) to support land distribution programs. Modern governments still refer to the Inca Empire to show their legitimacy. There are even publicly funded rituals referencing Inca mythology, especially around Cusco. The power of Inca mythology still influences life in Peru today.
Animals in Inca Mythology
Like other Native American cultures, the Inca people were greatly influenced by local animals. Animals were sources of food, clothing, and transport. They were also important in religion and culture. Many Inca myths include animals and their interactions with gods, humans, and nature.
Dogs
The Inca raised dogs for hunting and scavenging. They rarely used them for religious purposes. However, the Huanca people had a religious reason for eating dog meat. Their god, Paria Caca, was said to eat only dog meat after defeating another god. Some people called the Huanca "the dog-eating Huanca," which other parts of the empire looked down upon.
There is a city called Alqollacta, or "Dog town." It has dog statues that are thought to represent the souls of dead dogs. People would leave bones at these statues to help dogs in the afterlife.
The Inca sometimes believed dogs could move between life and death. They also thought dogs could see the souls of the dead. They believed unhappy dead souls could visit people as black dogs. The Aymara people of Bolivia believed that the dead had to cross an ocean to the afterlife on or in the ear of a black dog.
Bears
There is only one bear species in South America, the spectacled bear. But the story of "The Bear's Wife and Children" is very important among the Inca. Andean people believed bears showed the habits of men and women. This story tells of a bear who turned into a man. He took a girl to his cave, fed her, and cared for her. She later had two half-bear, half-human children. With the children's help, they escaped the cave and returned to human society. The bear children faced many challenges. The older bear-child eventually defeated a cursed soul and saved it. This tale might show the struggles of Native Americans against Spanish society after the Spanish Conquest.
Half-bear, half-human beings called Ukuku are believed to be the only ones who can bring ice from mountaintops. They have human intelligence and bear strength. Ukuku clowns can be seen in Corpus Christi celebrations in Cuzco. They go on a pilgrimage to a glacier and spend the night on the ice as a coming-of-age ritual.
Foxes
The fox generally had a bad reputation among the Inca and Andean people. It was seen as a bad sign. Sacrifices to the gods included many goods and animals, but never foxes. Inca myths mention gods being tricked by foxes. In one story, the god Cuniraya Viracocha was angry at a fox. He said people would despise the fox and throw away its skin when they killed it. Other stories say the fox tried to steal the moon, but the moon hugged the fox close, creating the spots on the moon. Today, the howling of a fox in August is still seen as good luck in some Andean communities.
The Inca had names for constellations and dark clouds in the Milky Way. The fox (Atoq in Quechua) is the name for one of these dark clouds. Andean stories might refer to this cloud rather than the animal itself.
Pre-Inca Andean Beliefs
Before the Inca Empire, other cultures in Peru had their own beliefs. These included the Chavín, Paracas, Moche, and Nazca cultures. More about pre-Inca beliefs can be found in the Huarochirí Manuscript. This 17th-century text records the myths and beliefs of people in the Huarochirí Province of the Western Andes.
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See also
In Spanish: Mitología incaica para niños
