Inca Pantheon Research Paper
The Inca Pantheon
João Sampaio, 28461
The Inca Pantheon
The Inca civilization started around the XII century on Andean mountains region in South America. The Empire grew up so fast that one century later its territory extended through Peru, Ecuador and the north of Chile and its population was more than 20 million. The Inca emperor was considered the son of the sun and almost a god. He had power about all structures of civilization and was wealthy. Like every civilization of this period, the Inca had a blind faith in their gods so mythology was extremely important to them. Gods were the core of their civilization functioning, the Inca acted always according to their beliefs and their gods were present in everyday life like agriculture, war and so on. They were also, …show more content…
Mama Kilya was linked with the calendar since the Inca regulated their religious festivals through the lunar calendar that was also adjusted to match the solar year time. They also did these calculations to regulate religious festivals, the passage of time and to sign the most profitable times to plant crops. This deity was particularly connected to women. She represented an icon of inspiration and protection to all women and was believed to regulate their menstrual cycles as well. Mama Kilya was too associated with marriage in the Inca mythology.
Mama Kilya was very respected and powerful in the Inca mythology. She was depicted with a silver disk with rays coming out of it in allusion to her power. In the Coricancha temple was a statue of her intended for praying, pay tribute and respect. Her shrine was flanked by mummies of former Inca queens and the walls surrounding her were covered in silver which meant to represent the color of the moon. During lunar eclipses the Inca believed that a great serpent or mountain lion was trying to devour Mama Kilya and to save her they would do as much noise as
João Sampaio, 28461
The Inca Pantheon
The Inca civilization started around the XII century on Andean mountains region in South America. The Empire grew up so fast that one century later its territory extended through Peru, Ecuador and the north of Chile and its population was more than 20 million. The Inca emperor was considered the son of the sun and almost a god. He had power about all structures of civilization and was wealthy. Like every civilization of this period, the Inca had a blind faith in their gods so mythology was extremely important to them. Gods were the core of their civilization functioning, the Inca acted always according to their beliefs and their gods were present in everyday life like agriculture, war and so on. They were also, …show more content…
Mama Kilya was linked with the calendar since the Inca regulated their religious festivals through the lunar calendar that was also adjusted to match the solar year time. They also did these calculations to regulate religious festivals, the passage of time and to sign the most profitable times to plant crops. This deity was particularly connected to women. She represented an icon of inspiration and protection to all women and was believed to regulate their menstrual cycles as well. Mama Kilya was too associated with marriage in the Inca mythology.
Mama Kilya was very respected and powerful in the Inca mythology. She was depicted with a silver disk with rays coming out of it in allusion to her power. In the Coricancha temple was a statue of her intended for praying, pay tribute and respect. Her shrine was flanked by mummies of former Inca queens and the walls surrounding her were covered in silver which meant to represent the color of the moon. During lunar eclipses the Inca believed that a great serpent or mountain lion was trying to devour Mama Kilya and to save her they would do as much noise as