[American Hero-Myths by Daniel G. Brinton]@TWC D-Link bookAmerican Hero-Myths CHAPTER V 23/49
In the valley at the base he founded the great city which he called _Cuzco_, the Navel.
Its inhabitants ever afterwards classed Huanacauri as one of their principal deities.[1] [Footnote 1: Don Gavino Pacheco Zegarra derives Huanacauri from _huanaya_, to rest oneself, and _cayri_, here; "c'est ici qu'il faut se reposer." _Ollantai_, Introd., p.xxv.It was distinctly the _huzca_, or sacred fetish of the Incas, and they were figuratively said to have descended from it.
Its worship was very prominent in ancient Peru.
See the _Information de las Idolatras de los Incas y Indios_, 1671, previously quoted.] When Manco Capac's work was done, he did not die, like other mortals, but rose to heaven, and became the planet Jupiter, under the name _Pirua_. From this, according to some writers, the country of Peru derived its name.[2] [Footnote 2: The identification of Manco Capac with the planet Jupiter is mentioned in the _Relacion Anonima_, on the authority of Melchior Hernandez.] It may fairly be supposed that this founder of the Inca dynasty was an actual historical personage.
But it is evident that much that is told about him is imagery drawn from the legend of the Light-God. And what became of Tunapa? We left him sailing on his outspread mantle, into the light of the morning, over Lake Carapace.
<<Back Index Next>> D-Link book Top TWC mobile books
|