Inca religion
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The belief system of the Incas was polytheistic. Inti, their Sun God, was the most important god, and was believed to be the direct ancestor of the Sapa Inca, the hereditary ruler of the empire.
| The Incas |
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Inca religion |
| Inca history |
| Francisco Pizarro |
Contents |
[edit] Pantheon
[edit] Sacred sites
Huacas, or sacred sites, were widespread around the Inca Empire. Huacas were deific entities that resided in natural objects such as mountains, boulders, streams, battle fields, other meeting places, and any type of place that was connected with past Incan rulers. Spiritual leaders in a community would use prayer and offerings to communicate with a huaca for advice or assistance. They usually sacrificed a child or a slave. They (the Incan People) thought it was an honor to die for an offering.
[edit] Priesthood
Priests lived at all of the important shrines. They functioned as diviners of the lungs and as sorcerers, confessors and healers. Young girls of the nobility or of exceptional beauty had the option of becoming acllas who spent four years in the provincial capitals brewing chicha or weaving textiles used by the Sapa Inca and the priests. Some learned these skills at Aqllawasis (feminine schools). They then had the privilege of becoming mamaconas, dedicated to a life of chastity serving the sun god, or of becoming the wives of Inca nobles.
[edit] Divination
The Incas also used Divination. They used it to inform people in the city of social events, predict battle outcomes, and drive away demons. They also used it to figure out who was to be sacrificed.
[edit] Festivals
The Inca calendar had 12 months of 30 days, with each month having its own festival. The Incan year began in December, and began with Capac Raymi, the magnificent festival.[1]
| Gregorian month | Inca month | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| January | Camay quilla | Fastening and Penitence |
| February | Hatun-pucuy | Great Ripening |
| March | Pacha-puchuy | Earth Ripening |
| April | Ayrihua or Camay Inca Raymi | Festival of the Inca |
| May | Aymoray quilla or Hatun Cuzqui | Great Cultivation |
| June | Inti Raymi | Feast of the Sun |
| July | Chahua-huarquiz, Chacra Ricuichi or Chacra Cona | Ploughing Month |
| August | Yapaquis, Chacra Ayaqui or Capac Siquis | Sowing month |
| September | Coya Raymi and Citua | Festival of the Moon |
| October | K'antaray or Uma Raymi | Month of crop watching |
| November | Ayamarca | Festival of the dead |
| December | Capac Raymi | Magnificent festival |
[edit] Inca religion and socialism
Inca religion is one of the main counter arguments in the debate regarding the notion that the Inca state was an early 'Socialist Empire' (Baudin, 1928). These facts, however, have little to do with the Inca economy, which, with its large-scale central planning; vast system of grain-houses; and mandatory work periods, does closely resemble many features of modern socialism, although there were markets, catus, where barter was practiced without any regulation. (Von Hagen, p. 91)
[edit] References
- {{cite book | author='Victor W. Von Hagen' | title="Realm of the Incas, Revised Edition" | publisher="Mentor (New American Library)"| year=1961 }
[edit] Notes
- ^ Kendall, Ann (1989). Everyday Life of the Incas.
