Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Inca Religion

So I was interested in learning more about the Inca of the "Virgin of the Sun's". But I haven't really been able to find anything specifically on it yet. I did find out that the Inca worshiped Wiraqocha, Sun God. Their King was considered to be the Only Son of the Sun. Inti Raymi was their sun festival held every June 21, winter solstice in the southern hemisphere. In Andean mythology the Inca were descendants of the Sun, so they would worship it annually. This celebration was at the end of their potato and maize harvest, to either thank the Sun for their bounty, or to ask for more in their next crops. Days before the ceremony the whole population had to practice fast and sexual abstinence. At sunrise the people would greet the Sun God with the "much'ay", kisses offered symbolically with the fingertips. Then they would sing solemn songs, which would then turn into weepy, emotional songs. Then the Inca King would take two golden ceremonial tumblers, both filled with maize beer. One he would pour into a golden channel for the Sun God, the other he would sip, then the remaining would be sipped by the noblemen who were with him. Then later maize beer would be offered to everyone else in attendance. Then the High Priest would sacrifice a completely black, or completely white llama- (I have to say this is a bit disgusting) He would cut open the chest and rip out the beating heart and the lungs and viscera to foretell the future. Then the High Priest would take this concave gold medallion filled with this soft or oily substance, that I guess when he held it up in the light the rays would go in and catch the substance on fire. This sacred fire would then be kept during the next year in the Koricancha and Aqllawasi. Then Holy bread was made with maze flour and the blood of the llama. Then after the ceremonies were done the people would be entertained with music, dancing and drink, lots of drink.
Later it talked about crime, and it mentioned Sun Virgins. How it would be a crime to commit adultery with a Sun Virgin. Those who committed the crime were tied up to a wall by their hands and feet and left to starve to death. I wonder if Sun Virgins were some type of priestesses or something, and if they are connected to "Virgin of the Suns". Hmmm...perhaps I'll never know. Dangit, I hate not knowing. :S Oh well.

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