Panakas facts for kids

Panaka leads here. For Captain Panaka, a fictional character in Star Wars, see List of Star Wars characters#Captain Quarsh Panaka

A panaka (also spelled panaqa or panaca) was a special royal family group in the ancient Inca Empire. It included all the descendants of an Inca emperor, called the Sapan Inka. The only person not part of the panaka was the emperor's son who was chosen to be the next ruler. This son would start his own panaka when he became emperor.

The basic social group for the Incas was called an ayllu. An ayllu was a group of families. They all believed they came from a common ancestor. They shared their culture, religion, and worked together on farming, raising animals, and fishing in their shared land. The idea of an ayllu was so important that even royal families formed their own special lineages, which were known as panakas or "royal houses."

What Was a Panaka?

Each Inca emperor had his own royal ayllu, which was called a panaka. This was like their unique royal family line. The only son of the Sapan Inka who did not join his father's panaka was the Auqui, or crown prince. This was because when he became emperor, he would create his very own panaka.

Roles and Responsibilities

Panakas had many important jobs. They were responsible for keeping the memory of the dead Inca alive. They also cared for his mallki (mummy). They performed special ceremonies in his name. They also looked after his belongings and the agreements he made during his life.

Each panaka owned many properties across the Inca realm. This included palaces in the sacred city of Qusqu (Cusco). The main part of the city was filled with these palace buildings. They were known as kancha and belonged to the panakas. Panakas also had a big say in choosing who would be the next Sapan Inka.

Famous Panaka Families

The capaccuna was the official list of panakas. It also named the emperor each panaka came from. Other Inca family groups existed. But only the most important ones were on the capaccuna list. These were the only ones allowed to be called panaka.

According to the Incas, these were the main panakas, listed in the order of their emperors:

Rurin Qusqu Panakas

These panakas were part of the "Lower Cusco" group:

• Chima Panaka Ayllu: This was the royal house of Manku Qhapaq, the first Inca emperor.
• Rawrawa Panaka Ayllu: This was the royal house of Sinchi Ruq'a.
• Hawaynin Panaka Ayllu: This was the royal house of Lluq'i Yupanki.
• Uska Mayta Panaka Ayllu: This was the royal house of Mayta Qhapaq.
• Apu Mayta Panaka Ayllu: This was the royal house of Qhapaq Yupanki.

Hanan Qusqu Panakas

These panakas were part of the "Upper Cusco" group:

• Wikakiraw Panaka Ayllu: This was the royal house of Inka Ruqa.
• Awqaylli Panaka: This was the royal house of Yawar Waqaq.
• Suqsu Panaka Ayllu: This was the royal house of Wiraqucha Inka.
• Hatun Ayllu / Iñaka Panaka Ayllu: This was the royal house of Pachakutiq Yupanki.
• Qhapaq Ayllu: This was the royal house of Tupaq Yupanki.
• Tumipampa Ayllu: This was the royal house of Wayna Qhapaq.

The ayllu clans and their panaka counterparts were the basic social units of Inca society. Panakas were very important in the Inca government. They played a key role in the political, social, economic, and cultural parts of the Tawantinsuyu state.

See also

In Spanish: Panaca para niños