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105-691: The mountain has significance in Incan mythology . Every year the Quyllur Rit'i ( Quechua for "star snow") festival which attracts thousands of Quechua pilgrims is celebrated about 20 km north of the Ausangate at the mountain Qullqipunku . It takes place one week before the Corpus Christi feast. The region is inhabited by llama and alpaca herding communities, and constitutes one of

210-757: A cave in Cuzco, the siblings emerged from the waters of Lake Titicaca . Since this was a later origin myth than that of Pacaritambo it may have been created as a ploy to bring the powerful Aymara tribes into the fold of the Tawantinsuyo. In the Inca Virachocha legend, Manco Cápac was the son of Inca Viracocha of Paqariq Tampu which is 25 km (16 mi) south of Cuzco. He and his brothers (Ayar Auca, Ayar Cachi , and Ayar Uchu); and sisters ( Mama Ocllo , Mama Huaco, Mama Raua , and Mama Cura ) lived near Cusco at Paqariq Tampu, and uniting their people and

315-666: A desire to make public demonstration of fearlessness and godlike command of situation. The main view is that the Inca were eventually defeated due to inferior weapons, 'open battle' tactics , disease, internal unrest, the bold tactics of the Spanish, and the capture of the Inca's Emperor. Spanish armor was very effective against most of the Andean weapons, though it was not entirely impenetrable to maces, clubs, or slings . Later, most natives adapted in 'guerrilla fashion' by only shooting at

420-502: A llama constructed out of pure gold, an extremely valuable material for the Inca because of its religious significance as it was considered the sweat of the sun, the most worshipped deity for the Inca, Inti . The Inca had religious reverence for the cougar , commonly known as a puma in South America. The Incas believed the puma to represent power and strength, as well as patience and wisdom. The original Inca Capital Cusco took

525-459: A major role in the religious lives of the Inca, being a valuable sacrifice to the Gods and used in important religious ceremonies as offerings. Urcuchillay was a god worshipped by the Inca, in particular llama herders, Urcuchillay was believed to protect and watch over the llamas of the land. Llama artwork created by the Inca shows further reverence towards llamas, an example of this is a depiction of

630-497: A mix of animals and their interactions with the gods, humans, and or natural surroundings. Animals were also important in Inca astronomy, with the Milky Way symbolized as a river, with the stars within it being symbolized as animals that the Inca were familiar with in and around this river. Llamas were important to the economy of the vast Inca Empire, they could be used for wool, transportation of goods, and food. They also played

735-551: A much more religious basis for their consumption of dog meat as in Inca mythology Paria Caca, their god, was pictured as feeding solely on dog after he defeated another god, Huallallo Carhuincho, in a skirmish. In some parts of South America the Huanca are referred to as "the dog-eating Huanca". This behaviour of eating dog was looked down upon in other parts of the empire. There also exists a city named Alqollacta, or "Dog town", which contains statues of dogs and are thought to represent

840-540: A part of the Inca Empire gained their independence from Spain, many of these nations struggled to find a suitable origin myth to support the legitimacy of their state. In the early twentieth century, there was a resurgence of interest about the indigenous heritage of these new nations. While these references to Inca mythology can be more overt, such as the presence of Inti on the Argentine flag , other references to

945-449: A planned expressway near Lima in 2007. Forensic evidence suggests that European weapons killed some of the natives, probably during the uprising in 1536, but that the vast majority had been killed by local, indigenous weapons. After the Spanish re-occupied Cuzco, Manco Inca and his armies retreated to the fortress at Ollantaytambo where he, for a time, successfully launched attacks against Pizarro based at Cuzco and even managed to defeat

1050-528: A white dove. This tale could be interpreted as a Native American's plight story against the Hispanic society in which they find them in, which becomes more believable as this folklore become more prominent after the Spanish Conquest . In addition to this story, half bear half human beings called Ukuku are thought to be the only being that are able to bring ice from the top of mountains as they have

1155-538: Is called the true Inca pantheon . What was applied by the Inca cosmogony in the field of beliefs should be considered as one of the most important instruments used in the process of the formation of the empire along with the economic, social, and administrative transformations. In a general way, Inca mythology or religion includes many stories and legends that attempt to explain or symbolize Inca beliefs . Scholarly research demonstrates that Runa ( Quechua speakers) belief systems were integrated with their view of

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1260-406: Is known as “the awakening of the puma” The puma is also associated with wealth and prosperity. The Huarochiri Manuscript mentions how it was a practice of the Inca to wear puma skins to display their wealth. For the Inca, the condor was believed to connect the earthly world of man, Kay Pacha , with the upper world and the gods, Hanan Pacha . Believed to be the messengers of heaven to men, and

1365-709: The Amazon Basin and surrounding rainforest. When the Spanish arrived at the borders of the Inca Empire in 1528, it spanned a considerable area and was by far the largest of the four grand pre-Columbian civilizations. Extending southward from the Ancomayo, which is now known as the Patía River , in southern present-day Colombia to the Maule River in what would later be known as Chile, and eastward from

1470-649: The Battle of Cajamarca in 1532. It was the first step in a long campaign that took decades of fighting but ended in Spanish victory in 1572 and colonization of the region as the Viceroyalty of Peru . The conquest of the Inca Empire (called "Tahuantinsuyu" or "Tawantinsuyu" in Quechua , meaning "Realm of the Four Parts"), led to spin-off campaigns into present-day Chile and Colombia , as well as expeditions to

1575-517: The Battle of Cajamarca . The battle began with a shot from a cannon and the battle cry " Santiago! " The Spaniards unleashed volleys of gunfire at the vulnerable mass of Incas and surged forward in a concerted action. Pizarro also used devastating cavalry charges against the Inca forces, which stunned them in combination with the supporting gunfire. However, many of the guns used by the Spaniards were hard to use in close-quarters combat. The effect

1680-468: The Inca Empire , the nevado is still venerated as a divinity (called Apu (god) ) by the inhabitants of its surroundings. Incan mythology Inca mythology is the universe of legends and collective memory of the Inca civilization , which took place in the current territories of Colombia , Ecuador , Peru , Bolivia , Chile , and Argentina , incorporating in the first instance, systematically,

1785-521: The Sapa Inka would enter the Coricancha. In the temple concave mirrors would focus the sun's rays to light a fire for the sacrifice of llamas and in certain circumstances, children to please and pay tribute to the gods. The Coricancha also functioned as an observatory for the Inca, as it aligned with the sun on important days of the year such as solstices and equinoxes , alining the heavens and

1890-570: The Spanish . In fact, Inca mythology was utilized in order to resist and challenge the authority of the Spanish colonial authorities. Many Inca myths were utilized to criticize the wanton greed of European imperialism . There was widespread killing and rape of women and children in Peru by the European soldiers. For example, there are myths among the indigenous people of the former Inca empire that tell

1995-455: The afterlife in the ear of, or on the nose of, a black dog. Additionally, some sources report that women who sleep alone at night were capable of being impregnated by ghosts which would yield a baby with dog feet. Despite there only being one bear species in South America (the spectacled bear , Tremarctus ornatus ), the story of The Bear's Wife and Children is a prominent story among the Inca. The Andean people believed that bears represented

2100-466: The conquistadors ' demands. Pizarro knew that his forces were badly outnumbered but that capturing the Emperor and holding him hostage would give him a key edge. The majority of Atahualpa's troops were in the Cuzco region along with Quisquis and Challcuchima, the two generals he trusted the most. This was a major disadvantage for the Inca. Their undoing also resulted from a lack of self-confidence, and

2205-560: The Andean world. In creating this myth, the Incas reinforced their authority over the empire. Firstly, by associating the Hualla with plants from the jungle, the Inca's origin myth would have likely caused the listener to think that the Hualla were primitive compared to the superior Inca. Thus, the Inca's defeat of the Hualla and their supposed development of maize based agriculture , supported

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2310-596: The Andes. Manco Cápac was the legendary founder of the Inca Dynasty in Peru and the Cusco Dynasty at Cusco . The legends and history surrounding him are very contradictory, especially those concerning his rule at Cuzco and his origins. In one legend, he was the son of Viracocha . In another, he was brought up from the depths of Lake Titicaca by the sun god Inti . However, commoners were not allowed to speak

2415-424: The Inca Empire may have ceased to exist hundreds of years ago, its vibrant mythology continues to influence life throughout Peru today. Like other Native American cultures, the Inca society was heavily influenced by the local animal populations, both as food, textile, and transportational sources as well as religious and cultural cornerstones. Many myths and legends of the Inca include or are solely about an animal or

2520-443: The Inca Empire was in the midst of a war of succession between the princes Huáscar and Atahualpa. Atahualpa seems to have spent more time with Huayna Capac during the years when he was in the north with the army conquering Ecuador. Atahualpa was thus closer to and had better relations with the army and its leading generals. When both Huayna Capac and his eldest son and designated heir, Ninan Cuyochic , died suddenly in 1528 from what

2625-470: The Inca Empire was known as Coricancha ("The Golden Temple" in Quechua ) which was located in the heart of Inca Cusco and according to Inca legend was built by Manco Cápac as a place of worship for the principle deity of the Inca, the sun god Inti . During the reign of Pachakutiq Inca this temple was the home of the riches of the Inca Empire, housing gold, important religious artifacts, and gilded effigies of important Inca deities. The Coricancha being in

2730-592: The Inca Empire were tied to important myths and legends amongst the Inca. For example, Lake Titicaca , an important body of water on the Altiplano , was incorporated into Inca myths, as the lake of origins from which the world began. Similarly, many of prominent Andean peaks played special roles within the mythology of the Incas. This is reflected in myths about the Paxil mountain, from which people were alleged to have been created from corn kernels that were scattered by

2835-410: The Inca clan, who, according to tradition, emerged from a cave in a region called Paqariq Tampu . Huayna Capac was the son of the previous ruler, Túpac Inca , and the grandson of Pachacuti , the Emperor who, by conquest, had commenced the dramatic expansion of the Inca Empire from its cultural and traditional base in the area around Cusco . On his accession to the throne, Huayna Capac had continued

2940-468: The Inca leader to visit Pizarro at his quarters along the Cajamarca plaza. When De Soto noticed Atahualpa's interest in his horse, he put on a display of "excellent horsemanship" in close proximity. Atahualpa displayed hospitality by serving refreshments. Atahualpa responded only after Francisco Pizarro's brother, Hernando Pizarro , arrived. He replied with what he had heard from his scouts, that that

3045-787: The Inca mythology can be subtler. For example, in the late twentieth century the Peruvian Revolutionary government made reference to Inca myths about Pachamama , an Inca Mother Earth figure, in order to justify their land distribution programs. Additionally, modern governments continue to make reference to the former Inca Empire in order to support their claims of legitimacy, to the point that there are municipally funded observances of rituals referencing Inca mythology, especially in and around Cusco. The power of Inca mythology resonates in contemporary politics, with politicians like Alejandro Toledo making references to Inca mythology and imagery during their candidacies and tenures. While

3150-411: The Inca to support their elite position was no small feat, given that less than fifty thousand Inca were able to rule over millions of non-Inca peoples. Mythology was an important way by which the Inca were able to justify both the legitimacy of the Inca state, as well as their privileged position with the state. The strategic deployment of Inca mythology did not end after the Inca empire was colonized by

3255-444: The Inca to their patron deity , Inti . Today, the people of the Andes still hold the condor as sacred. In some towns, the Andean ritual of the "Yawar Fiesta", or Blood Festival, is still being celebrated, in this festival condors fight bulls, with the condor representing the Inca, while the bull represents the Spaniards. The Inca bred dogs for hunting and scavenging but rarely for religious purposes. The Huanca people , however, had

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3360-499: The Inca, Inti . As such, the myth of original Inca's planting of the corn crop was utilized to associate the ruling Inca elite with the gods, as well as portraying them as being the bringers of the harvest. In this way, the origin myths of the Inca were used to justify the elite position of the Inca within their vast, multiethnic empire . Within the Inca Empire, the Inca held a special status of "Inca by Blood", that granted them significant privileges over non-Inca peoples. The ability of

3465-526: The Isla Del Sol. According to this legend, Manco Cápac and his siblings were sent up to the earth by the sun god and emerged from the cave of Puma Orco at Paqariq Tampu carrying a golden staff called "tapac-yauri". They were instructed to create a Temple of the Sun in the spot where the staff sank into the earth to honor the sun god Inti, their father. During the journey, one of Manco's brothers ( Ayar Cachi )

3570-456: The Native captives with "iron ropes". When Atahualpa asked what to do about the strangers, Cinquinchara advised that they be killed because they were evil thieves who would take whatever they wanted, and were " supai cuna" or "devils". He recommended trapping the men inside of their sleeping quarters and burning them to death. After his victory and the capture of his brother Huáscar , Atahualpa

3675-597: The Neo-Inca state The Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire , also known as the Conquest of Peru , was one of the most important campaigns in the Spanish colonization of the Americas . After years of preliminary exploration and military skirmishes, 168 Spanish soldiers under conquistador Francisco Pizarro , along with his brothers in arms and their indigenous allies , captured the last Sapa Inca , Atahualpa , at

3780-528: The Pacific Ocean to the edge of the Amazonian jungles , it covered some of the most mountainous terrains on Earth. In less than a century, the Inca had expanded their empire from about 400,000 km (150,000 sq mi) in 1448 to 1,800,000 km (690,000 sq mi) in 1528, just before the arrival of the Spanish. This vast area of land varied greatly in culture and climate. Because of

3885-609: The Permian formation with its singular colors: red, ochre, and turquoise and the Cretaceous, limestone forests. The north face of Ausangate was first climbed in 2023 by Japanese climbers Yudai Suzuki and Kei Narita. That face is able to see easily from the last small village Pacchanta. The normal route is located at opposite side (south face) of the mountain; however, only 0 to 4 teams successfully climb that route each year. Protagonist of legends  told through generations since

3990-462: The Runa, as they relied on cyclical agricultural seasons, which were not only connected to annual cycles, but to a much wider cycle of time (every 800 years at a time). This way of keeping time was deployed in order to ensure the cultural transmission of key information, in spite of regime change or social catastrophes. After the Spanish conquest of Peru by Francisco Pizarro , colonial officials burned

4095-449: The Spanish conquest was achieved, aided by factors like smallpox and a great communication and cultural divide. The Spaniards destroyed much of the Inca culture and imposed Spanish culture onto the native population. A struggle for power resulted in a long civil war between Francisco Pizarro and Diego de Almagro in which Almagro was killed. Almagro's loyal followers and his descendants later avenged his death by killing Pizarro in 1541. This

4200-592: The Spanish had been killing and enslaving countless numbers of people and civilians on the coast. Pizarro denied the report and Atahualpa, with limited information, reluctantly let the matter go. At the end of their meeting, the men agreed to meet the next day at Cajamarca. The next morning, on 16 November 1532, Pizarro had arranged an ambuscade around the Cajamarca plaza, where they were to meet. At this point, Pizarro had in total 168 men under his command: 106 on foot and 62 on horseback. When Atahualpa arrived with about 6,000 unarmed followers, Friar Vincente de Valverde and

4305-531: The Spanish occupiers in an open battle. When it became clear that defeat was imminent, Manco Inca retreated further to the mountainous region of Vilcabamba and established the small Neo-Inca State , where Manco Inca and his successors continued to hold some power for several more decades. His son, Túpac Amaru , was the last Inca, being killed by the Spanish in 1572. In total, the conquest took about forty years to complete. Many Inca attempts to regain their empire had occurred, but none had been successful. Thus

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4410-407: The Spanish soldiers taught him the game of chess . During Atahualpa's captivity, the Spanish, although greatly outnumbered, forced him to order his generals to back down by threatening to kill him if he did not. According to the Spanish envoy's demands, Atahualpa offered to fill a large room with gold and promised twice that amount in silver. While Pizarro ostensibly accepted this offer and allowed

4515-815: The Western Andes. One of the most important figures in Pre-Inca Andean beliefs is the creator deity Viracocha , who even during Inca times was one of the most important deities in the Inca pantheon and seen as the creator of all things, or the substance from which all things are created, and intimately associated with the sea. Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire Spanish victory [REDACTED]   Spanish Empire (1537–54) [REDACTED]   Inca Empire (since 1533) Native allies 2nd phase (1536–72): Conflicts between conquistadors and rebellions End of

4620-581: The aid of Cañari tribesmen who served as guides and allies to the conquering Spaniards. Rumiñahui fell back to Quito, and, while in pursuit of the Inca army, Benalcázar was joined by five hundred men led by Guatemalan Governor Pedro de Alvarado . Greedy for gold, Alvarado had set sail for the south without the crown's authorization, landed on the Ecuadorian coast, and marched inland to the Sierra. Finding Quito empty of its people's treasure, Alvarado soon joined

4725-464: The army declared loyalty to Atahualpa. The resulting dispute led to the Inca Civil War . The civil war between Atahualpa and Huascar weakened the empire immediately prior to its struggle with the Spanish. Historians are unsure if a united Inca Empire would have defeated the Spanish in the long term due to factors such as the high mortality from disease and the resulting social disruption, and

4830-412: The civil war and of the disease that was destroying the Inca Empire. After four long expeditions, Pizarro established the first Spanish settlement in northern Peru, calling it San Miguel de Piura . When first spotted by the natives, Pizarro and his men were thought to be Viracocha Cuna or "gods". The Natives described Pizarro's men to the Inca. They said that capito was tall with a full beard and

4935-416: The combined Spanish force. Alvarado agreed to sell his fleet of twelve ships, his forces, plus arms and ammunition, and returned to Guatemala. After Atahualpa's murder, Pizarro installed Atahualpa's brother, Túpac Huallpa , as a puppet Inca ruler, but he soon died unexpectedly, leaving Manco Inca Yupanqui in power. He began his rule as an ally of the Spanish and was respected in the southern regions of

5040-460: The cosmos, especially in regard to the way that the Runa observed the motions of the Milky Way and the solar system as seen from Cusco , the capital of Tawantinsuyu whose name means "rock of the owl". From this perspective, their stories depict the movements of constellations, planets, and planetary formations, which are all connected to their agricultural cycles. This was especially important for

5145-570: The cultures they integrated into their empire to keep their individual religions. Below are some of the various gods worshiped by the peoples of the Inca empire, many of which have overlapping responsibilities and domains. Unless otherwise noted, it can safely be assumed these were worshipped by different ayllus or worshipped in particular former states. Inca cosmology was ordered in three spatio-temporal levels or Pachas . These included: The environment and geography were integral part of Inca mythology as well. Many prominent natural features within

5250-610: The dark nebulae rather than the animal. Prior to the founding of the Inca Empire, there were several other cultures in various areas of Peru with their own beliefs, including cultures of the Chavín , Paracas , Moche , and Nazca . Additional pre-Inca beliefs can be found in the Huarochirí Manuscript , a 17th-century text that records the myths, culture, and beliefs of people in the Huarochirí Province of

5355-495: The death of Túpac Huallpa . Pizarro's force entered the heart of the Tawantinsuyu on 15 November 1533. Benalcázar, Pizarro's lieutenant and fellow Extremaduran, had already departed from San Miguel with 140 foot soldiers and a few horses on his conquering mission to Ecuador. At the foot of Mount Chimborazo , near the modern city of Riobamba (Ecuador) he met and defeated the forces of the great Inca warrior Rumiñawi with

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5460-410: The degrading state of Inca morale coupled with the superior Spanish siege weapons soon made Manco Inca realize his hope of recapturing Cuzco was failing. Manco Inca eventually withdrew to Tambo. Archaeological evidence of the rebellion incident exists, showing that the Spanish conquistadors were aided by native Indian allies. The remains of about 70 men, women, and adolescents were found in the path of

5565-403: The deity Cuniraya Viracocha was angered by a fox and stated that "As for you, even when you skulk around keeping your distance, people will thoroughly despise you and say ‘That fox is a thief!’. When they kill you they'll carelessly throw you away and your skin too". In other narratives, the fox is said to have tried to steal the moon but the moon hugged the fox close which resulted in the spots on

5670-503: The disagreement between Almagro and Pizarro to his advantage and attempted the recapture of Cuzco starting in April 1536. The siege of Cuzco was waged until the following spring, and during that time Manco's armies managed to wipe out four relief columns sent from Lima, but was ultimately unsuccessful in its goal of routing the Spaniards from the city. The Inca leadership did not have the full support of all its subject peoples and furthermore,

5775-462: The diverse cultures and geography, the Inca allowed many areas of the empire to be governed under the control of local leaders, who were watched and monitored by Inca officials. Under the administrative mechanisms established by the Inca, all parts of the empire answered to, and were ultimately under the direct control of, the Inca Emperor. Scholars estimate that the population of the Inca Empire

5880-409: The earth, an important theme in the beliefs and religion of the Inca. Coricancha's use as an observatory was also useful for understanding when in the year the Inca were, and what food would be available throughout the year. Mythology served many purposes within the Inca Empire. Mythology could often be used to explain natural phenomena or to give the many denizens of the empire a way of thinking about

5985-400: The empire, but there was still much unrest in the north near Quito where Atahualpa's generals were amassing troops. Atahualpa's murder meant that there was no hostage left to deter these northern armies from attacking the invaders. Led by Atahualpa's generals Rumiñahui, Zope-Zupahua and Quisquis , the native armies were finally defeated, effectively ending any organized rebellion in the north of

6090-419: The empire. Manco Inca initially had good relations with Francisco Pizarro and several other Spanish conquistadors. However, in 1535 he was left in Cuzco under the control of Pizarro's brothers, Juan and Gonzalo, who so mistreated Manco Inca that he ultimately rebelled. Under the pretense of recovering a statue of pure gold in the nearby Yucay valley, Manco was able to escape Cuzco. Manco Inca hoped to use

6195-467: The few remaining pastoralist societies in the world. High mountain trails are used by these herders to trade with agricultural communities at lower elevations. Currently, one of these trails, "the road of the Apu Ausangate", is one of the most renowned treks in Peru. The area has four major geological features, the Andean uplift formed by Granits, the hanging glaciers and glacial erosional valleys,

6300-454: The god Inti . Inca mythology was nourished by a series of legends and myths of their own, which sustained the pantheist religion of the Inca Empire , centralized in Cusco . The Inca people worshiped their gods , as in other religions. Some names of gods were repeated or were called in the same way in different provinces of the Inca people. Later, all these gods were unified and formed what

6405-515: The gods. Terrestrial environments were not the only type of environment that was important to mythology. The Incas often incorporated the stars into legends and myths. For example, many constellations were given names and were incorporated into stories, such as the star formations of the Great Llama and the Fox. While perhaps not relating to a single physical feature per se, environmental sound

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6510-424: The gold to pile up, he had no intention of releasing the Inca. He needed Atahualpa's influence over his generals and the people in order to maintain the peace. The treasure began to be delivered from Cuzco on 20 December 1532 and flowed steadily from then on. By 3 May 1533 Pizarro received all the treasure he had requested; it was melted, refined, and made into bars. Hernando Pizarro went to gather gold and silver from

6615-526: The greater imperial project. Due to its size, and the fact that all communication and travel had to take place by foot or by boat, the Inca Empire proved increasingly difficult to administer and govern, with the Inca Emperor having increasingly less influence over local areas. Huayna Capac relied on his sons to support his reign. While he had many legitimate-born of his sister-wife, under the Inca system- and illegitimate children, two sons are historically important. Prince Túpac Cusi Hualpa, also known as Huáscar ,

6720-462: The heart of Cusco, which is in the heart of the Inca Empire, is the point of convergence of the 41 pathways leading out of Cusco into the rest of the empire with a system called ceque, which served a political, religious, and administrative role in the Inca Empire. The Coricancha was the site of important religious ceremonies, such as during the Inti Raymi in which after a procession through Cusco,

6825-619: The intelligence of men but the strength of bears. Ukuku clowns can be seen in the Corpus Christi celebrations of Cuzco where they undergo pilgrimage to a nearby glacier and spend the night on the ice as an initiation of manhood. The fox did not generally have a good reputation among the Inca or people of the Andes and was seen as an omen. Sacrifices to the gods included a variety of goods and animals, including humans, but were never seen to ever include foxes. Inca mythology contains references to gods being deceived by foxes. In one encounter,

6930-460: The interpreter Felipillo met them and proceeded to "expound the doctrines of the true faith" ( requerimiento ) and seek his tribute as a vassal of King Charles. The unskilled translator likely contributed to problems in communication. The friar offered Atahualpa the Bible as the authority of what he had just stated. Atahualpa stated, "I will be no man's tributary." Pizarro urged attack, starting

7035-600: The interpreter Felipillo made the Spaniards paranoid. They were told that Atahualpa had ordered secret attacks and his warriors were hidden in the surrounding area. Soto went with a small force to scout for the hidden army, and the show trial of Atahualpa was held in his absence. Among the charges were polygamy, incestuous marriage, and idolatry, all frowned upon in Catholicism but common in Inca culture and religion. The men who were against Atahualpa's conviction and murder argued that he should be judged by King Charles since he

7140-531: The legs of the conquistadors if they happened to be unarmored. However, ensuing hostilities such as the Mixtón Rebellion , Chichimeca War , and Arauco War would require that the conquistadors ally with friendly tribes in these later expeditions. By February 1533, Almagro had joined Pizarro in Cajamarca with an additional 150 men with 50 horses. After the Spanish captured Atahualpa at the massacre at Cajamarca, they allowed his wives to join him, and

7245-486: The moon. Finally, the fox still plays a role in current Andean society where the howling of a fox in the month of August is perceived as a sign of good luck. The Inca had indigenous names for constellations as well as interstellar clouds ( dark nebulae ) visible from the Southern hemisphere. The fox (Atoq in quechua) is the name for one dark nebulae in the milky way, and Andean narratives, including Inca ones, may refer to

7350-479: The name of Viracocha, which is possibly an explanation for the need for three foundation legends rather than just one. There were also many myths about Manco Cápac and his coming to power. In one myth, Manco Cápac and his brother Pacha Kamaq were sons of the sun god Inti . Manco Cápac was worshiped as the fire and sun god. In another myth, Manco Cápac was sent with Mama Ocllo (others even mention numerous siblings) to Lake Titicaca where they resurfaced and settled on

7455-432: The north, and Huáscar controlling the capital of Cuzco and the large territory to the south, including the area around Lake Titicaca . This region had supplied large numbers of soldiers for Huáscar's forces. After a period of diplomatic posturing and jockeying for position, open warfare broke out. Huáscar seemed poised to bring the war to a rapid and decisive conclusion, as troops loyal to him took Atahualpa prisoner, while he

7560-414: The notion that the Inca were the rightful stewards of the land, as they were able to make the land productive and tame. These myths were reinforced in the many festivals and rites that were celebrated throughout the Inca Empire. For example, there were corn festivals that were celebrated annually during the harvest. During these festivals the Inca elite were celebrated alongside the corn and the main deity of

7665-554: The people," then he should not flee, but welcome them. The messengers went back to Tangarala, and Atahualpa sent Cinquinchara, an Orejon warrior, to the Spanish to serve as an interpreter. After traveling with the Spanish, Cinquinchara returned to Atahualpa; they discussed whether or not the Spanish men were gods. Cinquinchara decided they were men because he saw them eat, drink, dress, and have relations with women. He saw them produce no miracles. Cinquinchara informed Atahualpa that they were small in number, about 170–180 men, and had bound

7770-514: The peoples of the Amazon and who were perceived to be inferior and wild. The Inca engaged in battle with the Hualla, fighting quite viciously, and eventually the Inca emerged victorious. The myth alleges these first Inca people would plant corn, a mainstay of the Inca diet , on the location where they viciously defeated the Hualla. Thus, the myth continues, the Inca came to rule over the entire Cusco Valley, before eventually going on to conquer much of

7875-402: The policy of expansion by conquest, taking Inca armies north into what is today Ecuador . While he had to put down a number of rebellions during his reign, by the time of his death, his legitimacy was as unquestioned as was the primacy of Inca power. Expansion had caused its own set of problems. Many parts of the empire retained distinct cultures, which were at best reluctant to become part of

7980-416: The records kept by the Runa. There is currently a theory put forward by Gary Urton that the quipus could have been a binary system capable of recording phonological or logographic data . Still, to date, all that is known is based on what was recorded by priests, from the iconography on Inca pottery and architecture, and from the myths and legends that have survived among the indigenous peoples of

8085-404: The royal resort springs outside Cajamarca . The messenger arrived with news of the final victory on the same day that Pizarro and his small band of adventurers, together with some indigenous allies, descended from the Andes into the town of Cajamarca. Francisco Pizarro and his brothers ( Gonzalo , Juan , and Hernando ) were attracted by the rumors of a rich and fabulous kingdom. They had left

8190-405: The sexual habits of men and women and the girls were warned of "bear-rape". This story details a bear who disguises himself as a man who subdues a girl and takes her to his cave where he feeds her and takes care of her. Soon after, she bares two half bear half human children. With the help of the children the three are able to escape the cave and return to human society. The bear children are given to

8295-506: The shape of a puma, with the massive citadel of Sacsayhuaman representing the head of the puma. The site of Qenko north of Cusco contains monoliths and astronomically aligned structures, which on certain days create light and shadow effects. At the June solstice sunrise, light passes through a carefully designed fissure aligned to illuminate first one of the gnomons and then the other, with both casting shadows that create an image. The result

8400-535: The souls of dogs that have died. The people would often save up bones and leave them at the statues so that it would give them a better standing in the afterlife. Dogs were sometimes believed to be able of moving between life and death and also see the soul of the dead. In addition, the Inca believed that unhappy dead souls could visit people in the form of black dogs. The Aymara people of Bolivia were reported to believe that dogs were associated with death and incest. They believed that those who die must cross an ocean to

8505-519: The stories of foreigners who come into the Andes and destroy valuable objects. One such myth is the tale of Atoqhuarco amongst the Quechua , which describes how an indigenous woman is destroyed in an act of rebellion against a lascivious foreigner who in turn is eventually transformed into a predatory fox. Powerful colonial institutions are also critiqued in some of these myths, with the Catholic Church being frequently lambasted. For example,

8610-472: The story of the Priest and Sexton highlights the hypocrisy and abusive nature of a Catholic Priest and his callous treatment of his indigenous parishioners. As such, these myths show that Inca mythology was strategically deployed to subvert and rebel against Spanish rule in the former Inca Empire. Inca mythology continues to be a powerful force in contemporary Andean communities. After the nations that were once

8715-463: The superior military technology of the conquistadors, who possessed horses, dogs, metal armor, swords, cannons , and primitive, but effective, firearms. Atahualpa appeared to be more popular with the people than his brother, and he was certainly more valued by the army, the core of which was based in the recently conquered northern province of Quito . At the outset of the conflict, each brother controlled his respective domains, with Atahualpa secure in

8820-724: The temples in Pachacamac in January 1533, and on his return in March, captured Chalcuchimac in the Jauja Valley. Francisco Pizzaro sent a similar expedition to Cuzco, bringing back many gold plates from the Temple of the Sun. The question eventually came up of what to do with Atahualpa; both Pizarro and Soto reportedly spoke against killing him, but the other Spaniards were loud in their demands for death. False interpretations from

8925-512: The ten ayllu they encountered in their travels to conquer the tribes of the Cusco Valley. This legend also incorporates the golden staff, which is thought to have been given to Manco Cápac by his father. Accounts vary, but according to some versions of the legend, the young Manco jealously betrayed his older brothers, killed them, and then became Cusco. Like the Romans , the Incas permitted

9030-639: The territories of the central highlands of Peru to the north. Inca mythology was successful due to political, commercial, and military influence, before the conquest of the territories to the south and north of Cuzco , which later gave rise to the nascent empire. The identity of the Quechua peoples in Peru and Bolivia ; and the Quichuas (Kichwa) in Ecuador ; they share this spatial and religious perception that unites them through their most significant deity:

9135-530: The then-impoverished Extremadura , like many migrants after them. There lies Peru with its riches; Here, Panama and its poverty. Choose, each man, what best becomes a brave Castilian. In 1529, Francisco Pizarro obtained permission from the Spanish Monarchy to conquer the land they called Peru . According to historian Raúl Porras Barrenechea , Peru is not a Quechuan nor Caribbean word, but Indo-European or hybrid. Unknown to Pizarro, as he

9240-431: The town's priest who attempts to kill the cubs several times (by throwing them off buildings, sending them into the wild, sending them to fight officers) but is only capable of getting the younger bear-child killed. The older bear beats the trials and is sent to fight a damned soul, which he defeats and saves from damnation. The soul gives the bear his estate and wealth and the now fully grown bear man leaves human society as

9345-407: The truth about God's word. He said he was speaking to them so that they might: "lay the foundation of concord, brotherhood, and perpetual peace that should exist between us, so that you may receive us under your protection and hear the divine law from us and all your people may learn and receive it, for it will be the greatest honor, advantage, and salvation to them all." Additionally, they invited

9450-475: The very gates of Cuzco . On the first day of the battle for Cuzco, the forces loyal to Huáscar gained an early advantage. However, on the second day, Huáscar personally led an ill-advised "surprise" attack, of which the generals Challcuchima and Quisquis had advanced knowledge. In the ensuing battle, Huáscar was captured, and resistance completely collapsed. The victorious generals sent word north by chasqui messenger to Atahualpa, who had moved south from Quito to

9555-472: The world. For example, there is a well-known origin myth that describes how the Inca Empire began at its center in Cusco . In this origin myth, four men and women emerged from a cave near Cusco, and began to settle within the Valley of Cusco, much to the chagrin of the Hualla people who had already been inhabiting the land. The Hualla subsided by growing coca and chili peppers , which the Incas associated with

9660-503: Was attending a festival in the city of Tumebamba . However, Atahualpa quickly escaped and returned to Quito. There, he was able to amass what is estimated to be at least 30,000 well-trained soldiers. While Huáscar managed to muster about the same number of soldiers, they were much less experienced. Atahualpa sent his forces south under the command of two of his leading generals, Challcuchima and Quisquis , who won an uninterrupted series of victories against Huáscar that soon brought them to

9765-444: Was completely wrapped in clothing. The Natives described the men's swords and how they killed sheep with them. The men did not eat human flesh, but rather sheep, lamb, duck, pigeons, and deer, and cooked the meat. Atahualpa was fearful of what the newly arrived white men were capable of. If they were runa quicachac or "destroyers of peoples," then he should flee. If they were Viracocha Cuna Runa allichac or "gods who are benefactors of

9870-407: Was devastating, and the shocked Incas offered such feeble resistance that the battle has often been labeled a massacre , with the 2,000 Incas slain and the Spanish with only one soldier wounded. Though the historical accounts relating to the circumstances vary, the true Spanish motives for the attack seemed to be a desire for loot and flat-out impatience. The Inca likely did not adequately understand

9975-433: Was done inside the palace of Francisco Pizarro in a fight to the death by these assassins, most of which were former soldiers of Diego de Almagro who were stripped of title and belongings after his death. Despite the war, the Spaniards did not neglect the colonizing process. Spanish royal authority on these territories was consolidated by the creation of an Audiencia Real , a type of appellate court . In January 1535, Lima

10080-400: Was extremely important in Inca mythology. For example, in the creation myth of Viracocha the sound of the god's voice is particularly important. Additionally, myths were transmitted orally, so the acoustics and sound of a location were important for Inca mythology. These examples demonstrate the power that environment held in creating and experiencing Inca myths. The most important temple in

10185-461: Was fasting in the Inca baths outside Cajamarca . Pizarro and his men reached the city on 15 November 1532. Pizarro sent Hernando de Soto to the Atahualpa's camp. De Soto rode to meet Atahualpa on his horse, an animal that Atahualpa had never seen before. With one of his young interpreters, Soto read a prepared speech to Atahualpa telling him that they had come as servants of God to teach them

10290-528: Was founded, from which the political and administrative institutions were to be organized. In 1542, the Spanish created the Viceroyalty of New Castile, that shortly after would be called Viceroyalty of Peru . Nevertheless, the Viceroyalty of Peru was not organized until the arrival of a later Viceroy, Francisco de Toledo , in 1569. Toledo ended the indigenous Neo-Inca State in Vilcabamba, executing

10395-563: Was lobbying for permission to mount an expedition, his proposed enemy was being devastated by the diseases brought to the American continents during earlier Spanish contacts. When Pizarro arrived in Peru in 1532, he found it vastly different from when he had been there just five years before. Amid the ruins of the city of Tumbes , he tried to piece together the situation before him. From two local boys, whom Pizarro had taught how to speak Spanish in order to translate for him, Pizarro learned of

10500-413: Was more than 16,000,000. Some scholars, such as Jared Diamond , believe that while the Spanish conquest was undoubtedly the proximate cause of the collapse of the Inca Empire, it may very well have been past its peak and already in the process of decline. In 1528, Emperor Huayna Capac ruled the Inca Empire. He could trace his lineage back to a "stranger king" named Manco Cápac , the mythical founder of

10605-467: Was probably smallpox , a disease introduced by the Spanish into the Americas, the question of who would succeed as emperor was thrown open. Huayna had died before he could nominate the new heir. At the time of Huayna Capac's death, Huáscar was in the capital Cuzco, while Atahualpa was in Quito with the main body of the Inca army. Huáscar had himself proclaimed Sapa Inca (i.e. "Only Emperor") in Cuzco, but

10710-580: Was recovered, probably at his prior request, and borne to its final resting place in Quito. Upon de Soto's return, he was furious; he had found no evidence of any secret gathering of Atahualpa's warriors. Pizarro advanced with his army of 500 Spaniards toward Cuzco , accompanied by Chalcuchimac. The latter was burned alive in the Jauja Valley, accused of secret communication with Quizquiz, and organizing resistance. Manco Inca Yupanqui joined Pizarro after

10815-449: Was the son of Coya Mama Rahua Occllo of the royal line. The second was Atahualpa , an illegitimate son who was likely born of a daughter of the last independent King of Quitu , one of the states conquered by Huayna Capac during the expansion of the Inca Empire. These two sons would play pivotal roles in the final years of the Inca Empire. The Spanish conquistador Pizarro and his men were greatly aided in their enterprise by invading when

10920-429: Was the sovereign prince. Atahualpa was forced to submit to baptism to avoid being burned at the stake and in the hopes of one day rejoining his army and killing the Spanish; they referred to him as Francisco for the purposes of the ritual. On 29 August 1533 the Spanish captors murdered Atahualpa by garrotting . He was buried with Christian rites in the church of San Francisco at Cajamarca, but was soon disinterred. His body

11025-575: Was tricked into returning to Puma Urqu and sealed inside or alternatively was turned to ice, because his reckless and cruel behavior angered the tribes that they were attempting to rule. ( huaca ). Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa wrote that there was a hill referred to as Tambotoco, about 33 kilometers from Cuzco, where eight men and women emerged as the original Inca's. 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 of this legend, instead of emerging from

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