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Inca worshipped many gods and goddesses. Most of them represented
the elements and natural phenomena such as rain, thunder,
earth and sea. The main god and ruler was Inti, the sun god.
The Incas considered themselves Inti's chosen |
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| 'children
of the sun.' Many temples were
erected in honor of Inti and Pachacamac, the creator god. Inca
rulers were thought to be direct descendants from these deities, giving
them god-like powers over the empire. |
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Apu
Illapu was the rain god, an agricultural deity whom people would
pray to when they needed rain. The Inca believed his shadow was
in the Milky Way, where he drew the water that he poured down to
earth as rain. |
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Ayar
Cachi was a god with a very hot temper. He was so difficult that
his brother Manco Capac and sister Mama Occlo locked him up in a
cave. He still sits in that cave about 30 kilometres from Cuzco
(a city in Peru) and tries to get out every now and then. Local
people believe this causes earthquakes in the area. |
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Illapa
was the goddess of thunder and lightning. When she came to earth
she became Yakumama, the goddess of water and rivers. |
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Inti
was the sun god and the patron deity of the holy city of Cuzco,
home of the sun. He was the patron god of the Incas and especially
worshipped by farmers who needed his warmth and light to grow crops.
Inti was represented with a human face in a great disk and is found
on many temples. |
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K'uychi
was the rainbow god. This deity was connected with fertility. He
was the heavenly form of the goddess Sach'mama, the Mother Tree. |
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Mama
Kilya was the wife of the sun god Inti. She was the Moon Mother
who regulated women's menstrual cycles. |
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Mama
Occlo was the sister of Manco Capac chosen by Pachacamac for her
wisdom to civilize the people. She taught the women how to weave
cloth and build houses. |
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Manco
Capac was Pachacamac's son, celebrated for his courage. He was sent
to earth to become the first king of the Incas. He taught his people
how to grow plants, make weapons, work together, share resources
and worship the gods. |
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Pachacamac
was the creator god of the Inca, also known as Viracocha. He was
the sky god who created the sun, the moon and the people. He brought
Manco Capac and Mama Occlo to the world to civilize people and teach
them skills such as farming and crafts. |
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Pachamama
was the goddess of the earth or earth mother and wife of Pachacamac.
She is still the object of a cult all over the Andean mountains
where people make her offerings of coca leaf and 'chicha' beer and
pray to her on all major agricultural occasions. |
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Qochamama
was the goddess of the sea or Sea Mother, especially worshipped
in the coastal regions. |
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Sach'amama
means Mother Tree. She was a goddess in the shape of a snake with
two heads. When she passed on to the heavenly world she transformed
into K'uychi. |
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Yakumama
means Mother Water. This water goddess was portrayed as a snake.
When she came to the earth's surface, she transformed into a great
river. She could also pass to the upper world. In that shape she
was called Illapa meaning thunder and lightning. |
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| "The
Big Myth" © Distant Train 2002 |
