What is the Inca rain god?

What is the Inca rain god?

Apu Illapu, the rain giver, was an agricultural deity to whom the common man addressed his prayers for rain. Temples to Illapu were usually on high structures; in times of drought, pilgrimages were made to them and prayers were accompanied by sacrifices—often human, if the crisis…

What did the Incas pray to?

The Inca state promoted the worship of a creator god (Wiracocha), the sun god (Inti), the Moon Goddess (Mamaquilla), the thunder god (Illapa), the earth monther (Pacha Mama), and a host of other supernaturals.

How did Inca worship their gods?

Mode of Worship The Inca gods, then, were worshipped with the construction of temples (wasi) and sacred sites (huacas) where ceremonies were held, prayers made, and offerings given. A hierarchical priesthood conducted such ceremonies, their status depending on that of the god they served.

What were the Inca rituals?

The Incas believed the gods had to be kept happy through worship. They held many religious festivals throughout the year, and these involved music, dancing, food, and human sacrifices. The Incas also mummified their dead, since they believed their ancestors continued to watch over the living.

How was Viracocha Worshipped?

Worshipped at the Inca capital of Cuzco, Viracocha also had temples and statues dedicated to him at Caha and Urcos and sacrifices of humans (including children) and, quite often, llamas, were made to the god on important ceremonial occasions.

What religion were Inca?

Learn about the importance of gold to the Incas. The Inca religion combined features of animism, fetishism, and the worship of nature gods. The pantheon was headed by Inti, the sun god, and included also Viracocha, a creator god and culture hero, and Apu Illapu, the rain god.

What was Inca religion called?

huaca. huaca, also spelled wak’a (Quechua: “sacredness,” or ldquo;holiness”), ancient Inca and modern Quechua and Aymara religious concept that is variously used to refer to sacred ritual, the state of being after death, or any sacred object.

What was the Incas main religion?

Life for the Inca people, however, was not all work. Just as with other ancient peoples you’ve studied, the Inca were polytheistic. That means that they believed in and worshiped many, many gods and goddesses. One important part of their religious worship was their many religious festivals.

What is Viracocha holding?

Viracocha was worshipped as god of the sun and of storms. He was represented as wearing the sun for a crown, with thunderbolts in his hands, and tears descending from his eyes as rain.

Why did Inca worship Viracocha?

The Incas believed that Viracocha was a remote being who left the daily working of the world to the surveillance of the other deities that he had created. He was actively worshiped by the nobility, primarily in times of crisis.

What does the Inca symbol mean?

The chakana (or Inca Cross) is a stepped cross made up of an equal-armed cross indicating the cardinal points of the compass and a superimposed square. The square is suggested to represent the other two levels of existence.