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CONSTELLATIONS: THE MISTERY OF THE INCAS

The relationship that existed in Inca times with astronomy and astrology was crucial in their development, in the execution of their actions and even in the foundation of the empire. The Incas maintained a respect for the stars, since for them, the stars spoke and showed them what they needed, that is why they always tried to maintain a direct communication with the cosmos, that is why the constructions they built were directly related to the position of the constellations.

How was the Inca Empire founded?

  • There are two legends about the foundation of the Inca Empire:

The legend of Manco Ccapac and Mama Ocllo:

In the regions near Lake Titicaca, people lived in any way, that is why the Sun God took pity on them and sent his children Manco Ccapac and Mama Ocllo so they can find a place of fertile land where they can develop, for this reason, The Sun God gave the task to Manco Ccapac to find the place where his golden rod sinks in this way he would know that it was the right place to form his empire, he began this journey from Lake Titicaca until he reached the valley of Cusco, where the golden rod that the Sun God gave him sank, that is why they settled and began the great Inca Empire.

Illustration of Manco Ccapac and Mama Ocllo emerging from Lake Titicaca to found the Inca Empire.

The legend of the Ayar brothers:

After the great flood, the Ayar brothers emerged from the mountains of Pacaritambo (northeast of Cusco), sent by the Sun God to find fertile land and establish their empire. The brothers and their wives were Ayar Manco with Mama Ocllo, Ayar Uchu with Mama Rahua, Ayar Cachi with Mama Cora, and Ayar Auca with Mama Huaco. During their journey, they betrayed Ayar Cachi, locking him in a cave to prevent conflicts due to his strength and temper. Later, at Mount Huanacauri, Ayar Uchu was petrified after challenging a golden idol. Ayar Auca grew wings but was also turned to stone upon landing. Ayar Manco, the sole survivor, continued until the golden rod given by the Sun God was buried in the Cusco valley, marking the beginning of the Inca Empire.

Both legends tell how the Inca empire was formed, and as we read, in both there are Manco Ccapac (Ayar Manco) and Mama Ocllo, who had the same mission, to find a ground where the golden bar provided by the Sun God would sink. We mention these legends because they are directly related to how the Incas were connected with the Sun or Sun God as they called him. 

Andean Cosmology What is it ? 

Andean cosmology was developed based on pre-existing Andean knowledge, a complex system where various huacas (sanctuaries) such as mountains, caves, springs, lagoons, rocks, apachetas and other elements of the geography were related to the spirits. The Incas incorporated such astronomical knowledge, turning it into a powerful weapon of power, predestination and domination. It is also said that the Incas saw that the Spanish invasion would happen, but because it was part of the destiny they had to go through, they did not prevent it from happening. 

The Quechua Zodiac:

The main constellations of today’s Quechua speakers, heirs of Inca knowledge, are found along the Milky Way, known as Muyu (River). Although centuries have passed, the agricultural and livestock practices of today’s farmers maintain similarities with those of the Incas. Many constellations mentioned in Spanish chronicles as “Inca” coincide with those classified by today’s Quechua farmers. Although the Inca and Quechua zodiacs are not identical due to the passage of time, they share a common cultural and astronomical background.

Diagram of the Quechua Zodiac with its animal and star symbols reflecting Inca celestial knowledge.
Urton, G. (s.f.). El sistema de orientaciones de los incas y de algunos quechua hablantes actuales tal como queda reflejado en su concepto de la astronomía y del universo. Universidad de Illinois, Urbana, E.E.U.U. (Traducción libre por John A. Lawrence S.).

According to research done to understand the Inca and Quechua-speaking constellations, it was extracted that they differentiate two types: Star Against Starvs. Black

In addition to this distribution, the conventional zodiac maintains a North – East direction of the Ecliptic (It is the apparent path that the Sun travels in the sky throughout a year) while the Quechua zodiac flips the classic Elliptic 90 degrees, having a North – South direction. 

Ancient Inca quipus and an astronomical observatory, showcasing their advanced knowledge of space and time.
Urton, G. (s.f.). El sistema de orientaciones de los incas y de algunos quechua hablantes actuales tal como queda reflejado en su concepto de la astronomía y del universo. Universidad de Illinois, Urbana, E.E.U.U. (Traducción libre por John A. Lawrence S.).

Mayu (The Milky Way):

The Quechua name for the Milky Way is “Mayu” (river), and indeed having this idea the Milky Way is a real river of stars flowing through the black background that is the universe. The Inca idea about the Milky Way and its reflection on the earth makes us understand that they evaluated in a more critical way the relationship of the sky with the earth, that is why the Quechua name of the Milky Way. 

The importance of the constellations in the Inca civilization was so great that all the architectural complexes have a direct relationship with each one of them, either for religious or military use. 

Illustration of the Muyu in the Milky Way, representing Andean cosmology and its connection to the stars.

The Muyu and its orientations in Time: 

With such expressions we can understand 2 points about the sophistication of the appreciations of space and time made by the Incas, a civilized people and connoisseur of this wide field such as Astronomy and Astrology. 

The creation of the zodiac as a result of their observations of celestial phenomena.

A sophisticated ability to register space and time:

Another curious ethnographic detail that the aforementioned data may help to explain is the fact that the Inca and also the present-day peasants of the Ayacucho region coincide in the affirmation that the sun stops for a whole month at each solstice. Perhaps it is not too much of a stretch to say that when a present-day peasant says that “the sun is at the solstice” he means that “the sun is in the Milky Way”.

This clarifies the dates of the two main Inca festivals. “Inti Raymi” (The Festival of the Sun) is celebrated in June, and ‘Hatun Inti Raymi’ (The Great Festival of the Sun) in December. These would be the moments in which the main elements of the Inca universe, the Milky Way and the sun coincided from the point of view of the City of Cusco, a place that would in turn be the center of the Inca terrestrial universe. 

Representation of an Inca quipu and an astronomical observation, showcasing their mastery of space and time.

What were the main Inca Constellations?

Black Type Constellations:

  • Lluthu (Partridge):

Black spot in SCUTUM. In western astronomy it is equal to “The Coal Sack” and is next to the southeast side of the Southern Cross. It is a faint constellation that can be seen from early morning hours, starting in October and remaining visible until July, a period that coincides with the end of the harvest of various tubers in the Cusco area.

The Yutu (tinamou) constellation in the Milky Way, as seen in Andean cosmology.
Smithsonian Institution. (n.d.). Creation stories: The Milky Way. National Museum of the American Indian.
  • Ampatu (Toad):

The valid spelling for Ayacucho would probably be “Hamaptu”. It is a black dot or spot near the Southern Cross. The toad, key in the Tahuantinsuyo, was seen as a symbol of rain. Its croaking indicated to the Incas that it was time to sow. In the Andean cosmovision, the toad represents water and springs, and its constellation appears at dawn at the end of October, announcing the rainy season.

The Hanp’atu (toad) constellation depicted in the Andean Milky Way, symbolizing fertility and transformation.
Smithsonian Institution. (n.d.). Creation stories: The Milky Way. National Museum of the American Indian.
  • Mach’acuay (Snake):

“The Snake”. In the Ayacucho jungle it is called “Machaqway” instead of the local term “Maqta Uru”. In the West it is a black spot between the star Adhara (Epsilon of Canis Maior or Can Mayor). This constellation can be seen from August to February, when it begins to disappear, coinciding with the appearance of snakes in the Peruvian Andes. For the Incas, these animals were very significant, since they symbolized the underworld or ukhu pacha. In addition, it was believed that snakes were closely linked to water and the agricultural cycle.

The Mach’acuay (snake) constellation slithering through the Andean Milky Way.
Smithsonian Institution. (n.d.). Creation stories: The Milky Way. National Museum of the American Indian.
  • Yana Llama (Black Flame):

Black spot located between the Southern Cross and Epsilon of Scorpio.It is the largest dark constellation that exists and it is possible to appreciate it in the month of November. Its recognition is easier with respect to the other constellations because its eyes are two bright stars, according to the Incas it had two bodies, representing a mother and her baby. 

The Yana Llama (black llama) constellation standing out in the Andean Milky Way, representing protection and harmony.
Smithsonian Institution. (n.d.). Creation stories: The Milky Way. National Museum of the American Indian.
  • Atoq (Fox): 

Black spot located between the tail of Scorpio and Sagittarius. This constellation is located below Yana Llama, giving the impression that it is chasing her. It is especially striking because of its deep red eyes. The sun passes through this constellation in December, coinciding with the season when the fox cubs are born.

Atoq (fox) constellation shining in the Andean Milky Way, embodying cunning and adaptability.
Smithsonian Institution. (n.d.). Creation stories: The Milky Way. National Museum of the American Indian.

Constellations Star Against Star Type: 

  • Holy Cross (Papa God): 

It is possible that the predilection for the word ‘cross’ represents an earlier predilection for the word bridge and that, in the Inca, many phenomena were considered as bridges crossing the ‘river’. Rural priests may have effected the change of rural phenomena with the apparatus of the Catholic religion. In Western astronomy they are the five stars Alpha, Beta, Delta, Pi and Sigma of the constellation Scorpio or Scorpion.

  • Amaru (Condor):

Which is changed into the “Condor”. It is equal to the totality of the constellation Scorpio, and therefore must be understood together with (The Holy Cross) and Collca, plus some intermediate stars. Amaru or Condor is equal to the constellation “Scorpio”. 

  • Llamacrawin (Eyes of the Flame):

According to the spelling of the original we respect here. “Eyes of the Llama”. The orthography of the Summer Institute of Linguistics would probably write Llamaq Rawin, and in Ayacucho it would be Llamap or Llamapa Rawin. The two “eyes” of the llama are the two earth proximities of Alpha and Beta Centaur in western astronomy.

  • Huchuy Cruz (Small Cross):

“Little Cross.” The Summer Institute of Linguistics probably wrote “Uchuy Cruz” and perhaps “Uchuq Cruz” since the presence of an aspirated sound before the initial vowel is considered a vice of pronunciation. In western astronomy this is the Southern Cross, of great importance for stellar orientations. 

  • Hachu Cross (Big Cross):

Large Cross with according to western astronomy, Rige and Sirius in horizontal Line and Procyon and Betelgeuse in vertical Line. Repetition of the name but includes only one star from the previous grouping. In the West the four stars are Procyon, Castor. Eta Geminis and Mi Geminis.

  • Pacha Pacario Chaska (Star that makes the earth dawn):

It could be written “Pacha Paqariq Chaska”, that is “Star that makes the earth dawn”, “Chas’ña” in different meanings means star, starry and as adjective “chusco, disheveled”. For the terrestrial orientations of the Incanato it is the star of the north suyu. “In the West it is equal to the star “Altair”.

  • Collca (Granary):

The Granary. The preferred spelling for Ayacucho would probably be Qullqa. A study revealed that this is really nothing more than most of the scorpion’s tail. In western astronomy it is the six stars of Eta Theta 6, Lota 1, Kappa K, Lambda A, and Ypsilon.

Illustration of Inti, the Inca sun god, radiating light over ancient Andean temples.

In this way the constellations were in a direct relationship with the Incas and today is present in the Quechua culture, do not wait any longer and visit the greatness that Cusco has for you!

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