Inca Art and Empire, c.1400-1532

Inca Origin Myth

As told by Spanish priest Bernabe Cobo

…there came forth from a cave…four brothers [including Manco Capac]…and with them four sisters... With seeds of Maize and other foods that the creator gave them, they set off on a road to the Valley of Cuzco, the one guiding the rest. And they had agreed that wherever they stopped, they would make their settlement and home. They came to a high hill called Huanacauri, and from there the eldest brother marked the land, and, hurling four stones towards the four corners of the earth, he took possession of it.

At this point the Indians disagree. Some say that one of the brothers returned to Pacaritampu, entered the cave which he had left, and remained there without ever appearing again; of the three that remained, two of them turned themselves into stones, one of them became the hill of Huanacauri itself, and the other remained not far from there; thus only Manco Capac arrived at the site where Cuzco is today. There Manco Capac made friends little by little with the natives of the region, who were few in number and lived spread out over that valley like savages without order or harmony. With the industry and help of his sisters, who called him Son of the Sun and spoke to him with great reverence, especially because he was a peaceful, very prudent and humane man, he came to be respected by all.

Cuzco

Plaza: Huacaypata and Cusipata (F.Guaman Poma de Ayala, 16^th century drawing)

Qorikancha (Golden House), Cuzco, 15^th century

Silver corn cob with gilded leaves, c.1500

12-sided stone, Hatun Rumiyoc Street, Cuzco, 15^th century

Acclawasi (Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala, drawing, 16^th cen.)

Royal Tunic with Tocapu Designs, cotton and wool, c.1500

Sacred Landscape

Sacred Rock/Echo Stone, Machu Picchu (with Mt. Yanantin in distance), c.1470

Qenko, limestone Monolith, c.1500

Imperial Landscape

Warrior Tunic

Quipu

Terracing in Limestone Sinkholes, Morray

Terms:

Animism

Reciprocity

Tawantinsuyu –land of the four quarters (Tawa=4, ntin=united but distinct, suyu=land)

Leaders: Manco Capac and Mama Ocllu (mythical); Pachacuti (1438-71)

Dieties: Viracocha (creator), Pachamama (earth), Inti (Sun), Rainbow, Thunder, Moon

Moities: Hanan and Hurin, moity

Tinkuy

42 Ceque lines; 328/350+ huacas

mit’a labor

Chicha, Cocoa