Viracocha
Viracocha was the god of the Incas, also known as Huiracocha and Wiraqocha. Viracocha was believed to be the creator god, he was also known as the father of all other Inca gods and it was he who created the earth, heavens, sun, moon, and all living things. The Incas used descriptions of his many functions to refer to Viracocha at all times because the god’s real name was too sacred to be spoken. People believed that Viracocha’s first attempt in creating living creatures was a race of giants from stone in the age of darkness before he created human beings. In the legend, the giants became unruly and Viracocha punished them by sending a flood and all but two of the giants returned to their stone form and some of these stone figures are still seen at times at Tiahuanaco and Pukará. Many have believed that his next attempt was to create humans using clay and giving them gifts of clothing, language, agriculture, and the arts. After this he created animals, he made the sun, moon, and stars, bringing light to the world. The bodies were made from islands in Lake Titicaca and when finished he traveled to spread his civilizing knowledge around the world, dressed as a beggar. Viracocha was assisted by his two sons named Imaymana Viracocha and Tocapo Viracocha and along the way he was threatened from his knowledge as a god. He travelled far to teach humanity and bring spread the civilized arts, reaching Manta, Ecuador, before he had went west, across the Pacific Ocean and was never seen again but promised to the people to one day return. When he left, deities were assigned to watch over the humans, but Viracocha was always there, watching from above.
According to an Inca myth, Viracocha gave a headdress and battle-axe to the Inca ruler Manco Capa in battle and promised that the Inca would conquer all of them. The god’s name was assumed by the ruler as Viracocha Inca and this may have been the start of the creator Viracocha. Viracocha was worshipped at the Inca capital of Cuzco and had temples and statues devoted to him at Caha and Urcos. Many sacrifices of children and llamas were made to the god on important ceremonial occasions. To begin with, other Inca gods were more important in daily life of the common people, so Viracocha was mainly worshipped by the nobility and at times of political crisis. When drawn in art, he is usually represented as an old bearded man in a robe that used a staff. A famous sculpture of the god was a gold three-quarter size statue at Cuzco that the Spanish described as a white-skinned bearded male in a long robe. Another famous statue at the ruins of Tiahuanaco, close to Lake Titicaca, where all things were first created.
According to an Inca myth, Viracocha gave a headdress and battle-axe to the Inca ruler Manco Capa in battle and promised that the Inca would conquer all of them. The god’s name was assumed by the ruler as Viracocha Inca and this may have been the start of the creator Viracocha. Viracocha was worshipped at the Inca capital of Cuzco and had temples and statues devoted to him at Caha and Urcos. Many sacrifices of children and llamas were made to the god on important ceremonial occasions. To begin with, other Inca gods were more important in daily life of the common people, so Viracocha was mainly worshipped by the nobility and at times of political crisis. When drawn in art, he is usually represented as an old bearded man in a robe that used a staff. A famous sculpture of the god was a gold three-quarter size statue at Cuzco that the Spanish described as a white-skinned bearded male in a long robe. Another famous statue at the ruins of Tiahuanaco, close to Lake Titicaca, where all things were first created.