Viracocha, also known as Wiracocha, Apu Qun Tiqsi Wiraqutra, and Con-Tici, is the great creator deity Inca mythology in the Andes region of South America.
Description[]
He was represented as wearing the sun for a crown, with thunderbolts in his hands, and tears descending from his eyes as rain.
Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa wrote that Viracocha was described as "a man of medium height, white and dressed in a white robe like an alb secured round the waist and that he carried a staff and a book in his hands.
Overview[]
He was presumably one of the many Primordials created by Chaos, who was later allowed by God to reign over the ancient Earth. He brought light to the ancient South America, which would later be retold by the natives as Viracocha creating the stars, sun and moon.
Viracocha rose from Lake Titicaca (or sometimes the cave of Paqariq Tampu) during the time of darkness to bring forth light. He made the sun, moon, and the stars. He made his own versions of humanity by breathing into stones, but his first creation were brainless giants that displeased him for at the time he was prohibited from seeing the design of God's humans. So, he destroyed them with a flood and made humans, beings who were better than the giants, from smaller stones. After creating them, and the Fall of Man, they were scattered all over the world.
Viracocha eventually disappeared across the Pacific Ocean (by walking on the water), and never returned. He wandered the earth disguised as a beggar, teaching his new creations the basics of civilization, as well as working numerous miracles. Many, however, refused to follow his teachings, devolving into warfare and delinquency; Viracocha wept when he saw the plight of the creatures he had created. It was thought that Viracocha would reappear in times of trouble.
In one legend he had one son, Inti, and two daughters, Mama Killa and Pachamama. In this legend, he destroyed the people around Lake Titicaca with a Great Flood called Unu Pachakuti, lasting 60 days and 60 nights, saving two to bring civilization to the rest of the world. These two beings are Manco Cápac, the son of Inti (sometimes taken as the son of Viracocha), which name means "splendid foundation", and Mama Uqllu, which means "mother fertility". These two founded the Inca civilization carrying a golden staff, called 'tapac-yauri'. In another legend, he fathered the first eight civilized human beings. In some stories, he has a wife called Mama Qucha.
In another legend, Viracocha had two sons, Imahmana Viracocha and Tocapo Viracocha. After the Great Flood and the Creation, Viracocha sent his sons to visit the tribes to the northeast and northwest to determine if they still obeyed his commandments. Viracocha traveled North. During their journey, Imaymana and Tocapo gave names to all the trees, flowers, fruits, and herbs. They also taught the tribes which of these were edible, which had medicinal properties, and which were poisonous. Eventually, Viracocha, Tocapo and Imahmana arrived at Cusco (in modern-day Peru) and the Pacific seacoast, where they walked away across the water until they disappeared.
Links[]
- Viracocha - Wikipedia
- Viracocha - Religion Wiki