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The religion of the Inca civilization, which developed in the Andean regions of South America, was a complex system combining ceremonies, animistic beliefs, and nature worship. Central to Inca religion was the veneration of the Sun, presided over by the Inca priesthood. While the state religion focused on solar worship, the underlying spiritual traditions of earlier pre-Inca cultures continued to influence Andean religious practices, both before and after the Spanish conquest of the 16th century. The Inca are today celebrated for many artistic and cultural achievements, including their monumental architecture, of which the magnificent fortress complex Machu Picchu is but one example. “The Incas of Peru” is a synthesis of various sources, including the works of Garcilaso de la Vega and Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa, among others. These sources offer valuable insights into the Inca civilization, its mythology, and its history, contributing to our understanding of this ancient culture. Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa was a Spanish adventurer, scholar, and later governor of the Strait of Magellan. In 1572, Viceroy Francisco de Toledo commissioned him to write The History of the Incas to support Spanish rule. Drawing on direct interviews with Inca nobles and eyewitnesses in Cuzco, he produced a detailed account of Inca history and mythology, emphasizing their rise and internal conflicts. His royal backing gave him access to both top colonial officials and influential […] first nation persons. Today, we are honored to present “Viracocha And The Coming Of The Incas” from the book “History of the Incas,” by Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa, translated by Clements Markham. “VIRACOCHA AND THE COMING OF THE INCAS” “THE NATIVES OF THIS LAND affirm that in the beginning, and before this world was created, there was a being called Viracocha. He created a dark world without Sun, Moon, or Stars. Owing to this creation, he was named Viracocha Pachayachachi, which means ‘Creator of all things.’[…]”
