The Obituary
Inti was the Inca sun god and divine ancestor of the ruling dynasty, the Sapa Inca claiming descent from him. His principal sanctuary, the Coricancha in Cusco, gleamed with sheets of gold representing his light, and the solstice festival of Inti Raymi honored him with offerings to secure the sun’s return. After the Spanish seized Atahualpa in 1532, his temple was stripped to pay the ransom; the state cult collapsed as conquest, completed by 1572, imposed Catholicism on the Andes.
Worth remembering
- The Sapa Inca claimed descent from Inti; his great temple, the Coricancha in Cusco, was sheathed in gold.
- The festival Inti Raymi marked the winter solstice with offerings to ensure the sun's return.
Sources
- Inti was the Inca sun god and patron of the ruling dynasty Wikipedia
- The Coricancha sun temple in Cusco was his principal sanctuary World History Encyclopedia
A graveyard tradition: leave a stone to show you came, and remembered.