Michael Brooks
The Incas were a deeply religious civilization that flourished in South America around the 14th century. They practiced polytheism and worshipped many gods and goddesses, including Inti, the sun god, and Pachamama, the goddess of Earth. Religion was an integral part of their daily lives, influencing everything from marriages to agriculture. When the Spaniards arrived in the 16th century, they attempted to convert the Incas to Christianity, destroying temples and banning traditional rituals. However, the Incas resisted and adapted, combining elements of Christianity with their own beliefs. They hid their worship by linking their goddess Pachamama to the Virgin Mary, allowing them to continue their traditions under the guise of Christian worship.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hiding places of worship | The Incas hid the bodies of their kings and became more secretive with their worship. |
| Combining deities | The Incas attempted to combine their deities with conquered ones in ways that raised the status of their own. |
| Religious festivals | The Incas continued to perform religious festivals, but adjusted them to fit the Christian calendar. |
| Religious symbols | The Incas continued to use religious symbols, such as Andean crosses and images of Pachamama, in their homes. |
| Religious practices | The Incas continued to perform religious practices, such as earth offerings to Pachamama and pilgrimages, alongside Catholic practices like attending mass. |
| Religious healers | Traditional healers, or curanderos, continued to mix Catholic prayers with old Andean healing methods, using both Christian saints and Inca gods. |
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What You'll Learn
- The Incas hid mummies and ritual items from the Spanish and Catholic missionaries
- They combined their deities with Catholic saints, e.g. Pachamama, the Earth goddess, was linked to the Virgin Mary
- The Incas adjusted their festivals to fit the Christian calendar
- They hid their religious worship and became more secretive
- The Incas hid their beliefs by adopting some Christian practices but understood them through their own beliefs
The Incas hid mummies and ritual items from the Spanish and Catholic missionaries
The Inca Empire had a rich and complex religion that was deeply intertwined with its politics, history, and society. The Incas worshipped many gods and goddesses, with the Sun God, Inti, being one of the most powerful. They believed that their gods occupied three different realms: the sky or Hanan Pacha, the inner earth or Uku Pacha, and the outer earth or Cay Pacha.
When the Spanish arrived in Inca territory, the Incas began to hide the bodies of their mummified kings and became more secretive about their worship practices. They tried to conceal their mummies and ritual items from the Spanish and Catholic missionaries, who sought to convert them to Christianity and replace their religious practices with Catholicism. The Incas saw similarities between their creator god Viracocha and the Spanish, as Viracocha was often depicted as a male with light skin and a beard. This may have contributed to their initial secrecy and attempts to hide their religious practices.
Polo de Ondegardo, a Spanish official, and his men found most of the mummified kings and took their bodies, along with other ritual items such as their huaques (statues). It is believed that Ondegardo secretly buried the mummies in or around Cuzco to prevent them from being worshipped again. Garcilaso de la Vega, a chronicler, visited Ondegardo's house and described the mummies:
> "The bodies were perfectly preserved without the loss of hair of the head or brow or an eyelash. They were dressed as if they had been in life, with Ilautus (royal headbands) on their heads... their hands were crossed across their breast."
Despite the efforts of the Spanish and Catholic missionaries, the Inca religion persisted, and even today, elements of it are still practised in Peru and other Andean regions. The Incas combined their beliefs with Christianity, creating a unique blend of the two religions. For example, Pachamama, the Inca earth goddess, was linked to the Virgin Mary, allowing the Incas to continue their traditions under the guise of Christian worship.
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They combined their deities with Catholic saints, e.g. Pachamama, the Earth goddess, was linked to the Virgin Mary
The Incas had a rich and complex religion that was deeply intertwined with their politics, history, and society. They worshipped many gods and goddesses, with the Sun God, Inti, being the most powerful. Other important gods included Mama Killa, the moon goddess, Illapa, the god of thunder, and Pachamama, the Earth goddess.
When the Spanish arrived, they tried to convert the Incas to Christianity, destroying temples and banning traditional rituals. The Incas resisted and adapted, combining elements of Christianity with their own beliefs. This process, known as syncretism, allowed them to continue their traditions under the guise of Christian worship.
One example of this syncretism was the association of Pachamama, the Earth goddess, with the Virgin Mary. Pachamama was a central figure in Inca rituals and ceremonies, reflecting their close relationship with nature. By linking Pachamama to the Virgin Mary, the Incas could continue their traditional practices while outwardly appearing to adhere to Christian worship.
In addition to combining deities, the Incas also adjusted their festivals to fit the Christian calendar. They continued their traditional practices, such as earth offerings to Pachamama, while also attending Catholic mass. This blend of religions can still be seen today in Peru and other Andean regions, where indigenous people follow a form of Christianity that incorporates traditional beliefs and customs.
The Incas' ability to adapt and conceal their religious practices allowed them to preserve their cultural identity even in the face of outside influence and oppression. It is a testament to their resilience and creativity in maintaining their connection to their spiritual traditions.
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The Incas adjusted their festivals to fit the Christian calendar
The Incas were a highly religious civilization, with spirituality playing a central role in their everyday lives. Their polytheistic religion was inseparable from politics, history, and society. The Incas believed their gods occupied three different realms: the sky or Hanan Pacha, the inner earth or Uku Pacha, and the outer earth or Cay Pacha.
The Incas' official state religion was the cult of the Sun, and the Sun God, Inti, was the most powerful deity in their pantheon. However, the Incas allowed locals to worship their own gods as long as they acknowledged the superiority of the Inca gods. As a result, the Inca Empire had a diverse array of religious beliefs and practices.
When the Spanish arrived, they attempted to convert the Incas to Christianity, destroying temples and banning traditional rituals. The Incas resisted and adapted, combining elements of Christianity with their own beliefs. They adjusted their festivals to fit the Christian calendar, allowing them to continue their traditions under the guise of Christian worship.
For example, Pachamama, the Inca goddess of the Earth, was linked to the Virgin Mary in Christian belief. This syncretism enabled the Incas to maintain their religious practices while nominally adhering to the imposed Catholic religion.
Even today, in Peru and other Andean regions, a blend of Christianity and Inca religion persists. Festivals like Qoyllur Rit'i and Corpus Christi in Cusco combine Catholic ceremonies with indigenous dances and offerings. Traditional healers, or curanderos, mix Catholic prayers with Andean healing methods, further showcasing the enduring influence of Inca religious practices.
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They hid their religious worship and became more secretive
The Incas took steps to hide their religious worship and became more secretive following the arrival of the Spanish in their territory. The Incas started to conceal the bodies of their kings and became more discreet with their worship. Polo de Ondegardo and his men managed to find most of the mummified kings, along with other ritualistic items, and took them away.
The Incas' religious beliefs and practices were deeply intertwined with their daily lives, politics, history, and society. They worshipped many gods and goddesses, and their religion included complex ceremonies, animistic beliefs, magic, and nature worship. The Sun God, Inti, was one of their most powerful gods, and they had an official state religion dedicated to him. However, the Incas also allowed local communities to worship their own gods as long as they acknowledged the superiority of the Inca gods.
To avoid the wrath of the gods, the Incas performed various rituals and sacrifices. They believed that their gods occupied three realms: the sky (Hanan Pacha), the inner earth (Uku Pacha), and the outer earth (Cay Pacha). They also believed that the heavens were divided into four quarters, similar to their empire. The Incas practiced divination, which was used to inform social events, predict battle outcomes, and seek metaphysical intervention. They also believed in the power of certain objects, such as carved stone boxes, which may have been used in elite religious rituals.
When the Spanish missionaries arrived, they attempted to convert the Incas to Christianity, destroying temples and banning traditional rituals. However, the Incas resisted and adapted, blending elements of Christianity with their own beliefs. They associated Catholic saints with Inca gods, such as linking Pachamama, the earth goddess, with the Virgin Mary. By doing so, they were able to continue their traditional practices under the guise of Christian worship. This syncretism resulted in a unique blend of the two religions that still persists in some Andean regions today.
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The Incas hid their beliefs by adopting some Christian practices but understood them through their own beliefs
The Incas had a rich religious tradition, with a state religion centred around the worship of the sun god, Inti, and a multitude of other gods and goddesses. For the Incas, religion was inseparable from politics, history, and society. It was an important tool for the ruling elite to legitimise their privileged position within society and to spread the general belief in Inca superiority over the subjects of their empire.
When the Spanish conquered Inca territory in the 16th century, they tried to convert the Incas to Christianity, destroying temples and banning traditional rituals. However, the Incas resisted complete conversion. They adopted some Christian practices but understood them through their own beliefs, creating a unique blend of the two religions. This process is called syncretism.
For example, the Virgin Mary was linked to Pachamama, the goddess of Earth and a central figure in Inca rituals and ceremonies honouring the Earth and its resources. This allowed the Incas to continue their traditional worship of Pachamama under the appearance of Christian worship of the Virgin Mary. Similarly, many Catholic saints were similar to Inca gods or ancestors, enabling the Incas to continue their traditional worship of these figures under the guise of Christian saints.
Inca festivals were also adjusted to fit the Christian calendar, and modern festivals in Peru and other Andean regions continue to combine Catholic ceremonies with indigenous dances and offerings. For example, many communities still perform pagos a la Tierra or Despachos (earth offerings) to honour Pachamama while also attending Catholic mass.
Today, a mix of Christianity and Inca religion is still present in Peru and other Andean regions. Many indigenous people follow a version of Christianity that includes traditional beliefs and customs.
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Frequently asked questions
The Incas didn't completely hide their religion from the Catholics. Instead, they combined elements of Christianity with their own beliefs, creating a unique blend of the two religions. This allowed them to continue their traditions under the appearance of Christian worship.
The Incas associated Catholic saints with their own gods or ancestors. For example, Pachamama, the Earth goddess, was linked to the Virgin Mary.
Yes, the Incas adjusted their festivals to fit the Christian calendar. They also attended Catholic mass alongside their traditional rituals and offerings to Pachamama.
The Incas' religious practices were interrupted by the Spanish missionaries, who destroyed temples and banned traditional rituals. As a result, the Incas had to adapt and perform their rituals in secret. For example, they started to hide the mummified bodies of their kings and became more secretive with their worship.
Yes, the Incas resisted and adapted to the changes imposed by the Spanish. They found ways to continue their religious practices, such as performing rituals in remote locations and combining their deities with those of conquered territories to disguise their worship.
