Inti the Sun God

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Inti the Sun God

Associated to Place: AncientWorlds > the Americas > South America > Yucay > Machu Picchu > articles -- by * Apo Mayta Huacac (8 Articles), Historical Article

The Sun God

Inti was the solar deity in the Incas’ polytheistic religion. Born of Viracocha (Quechua Apu Qun Tiqsi Wiraqutra), god of civilization, the sun was revered for enabling life and was most widely worshipped by the farmers, whose harvests lay in the balance between a helpful or destructive sun. Though second to Virococha in the Incan pantheon, Inti served as the patron of the Incan Empire (Tawantinsuyu). He wed Pachamama, the earth goddess, and together they were found to be both compassionate and giving by the Incas. Inti was also married to his sister, the lunar deity Mama Killa (while amusing to an English speaker, it translates to "mother moon"), and these two wives are interchangeable throughout Inti legends.

The Inti Version

There are two similar myths recounting the start of Incan civilization: one favors Viracocha and the other Inti. In the Inti variations, the sun god and his wife (take your pick of the two) produce a son, Manco Capac, and a daughter, Mama Ocllo. Taught the ways of civilization by their father, the divine siblings were sent to earth, alternatively through a cave or Lake Titicaca, with a golden staff, the tupayauri. On the very spot where this staff sinks into the earth the two were instructed to build a temple to honor Inti. They were then to civilize the humans on earth. This came to pass at Qosqo, the site from which the Incas began their climb to power.

Divine Lineage

Manco Capac would provide the link between all subsequent heads of state, the Sapas Inca, and their divine ancestry. Scholars alleged that the origin of the Inti story above was that Viracocha's name was forbidden among commoners, and therefore Inti was substituted into the story. Due to such a lineage as theirs, the Sapas Inca claimed to be the divine representatives of the sun god.

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Inti the Sun God

Festival of the Sun
Inti Resurrected
Credits

Posted Jun 17, 2006 - 22:44 , Last Edited: Jun 22, 2006 - 16:45