Inca Traditions And Beliefs

The Incan Empire had a very complex religion and it was an important part in everyday life. The Incas were polytheists which means they had multiple gods, and most of their gods were connected to forces of nature. The Inca’s main gods were Viracocha (the superior god),he was originally worshiped by the pre-Inca community of Peru. He is believed to have created the moon and the sun on Lake Titicaca. It is said after he was done creating the world and the heavens, he traveled from different places teaching men the arts of civilization. Viracocha was sometimes represented as an old man wearing a beard, a long robe, and carrying a staff. Viracocha was actively worshiped most during times of crisis. Inti (the sun god), was known for warmth, light, …show more content…
In this worship they would be forced to live in the cold dark underworld revered earths natural features. This was practiced by the Ayllus for thousands of years. The Ayllus is a groups of families, that formed a sufficient community including the major needs like farming, marriages, and religion. They believed that their ancestors sprung from a object or a specific point, like a tree or herb, and they worshiped these things greatly. The Huaca’s are said responsible for the sacred land on the Inca’s in Cuzo. Ceque which is like an imaginary line, there divide a city or community into districts. In one of these districts there was 328 Huacas, which also included natural and human made things like rivers, rocks, and fountains, which is all said to be sacred. The bodies of the dead were known as Huacas, who were treated with utmost dignity and reverence. When the supreme ruler of the Incas Sapa died his body was mummified by a complex procedure, doing things like removing …show more content…
The dead would be mummified and put into a tomb. The persons family would bring food jewelry, and items to the resting place to make them comfortable in the afterlife. A funeral in an Inca civilization would last eight days, in this time they would wear all black to show their respect. Families of this person would enter the burial daily to consult them. Upper class were treated at a higher standard, being buried in a upper chambers, unlike the lower class which would be buried in caves or pits. If you were in a higher class they would make sure your eldest son becomes the next Sapa Inca. During rituals, they would carry the mummified buddies of rulers. The Inca’s believed that the dead of lived respectful and virtuous would get to join the sun in the heavens, and be with their descendants. However evil spirits would live a dark cold spirit life without