[17] There were many sacrifices as well, which were all performed on the first day. Inca rulers considered themselves direct descendants of Inti, the patron of empire and military conquest. Among the 20th-century Quechua people, Inti is occasionally confused with Christ or God. Pachacuti is often linked to the origin and expansion of the Inca Sun Cult. The interior of this temple was a wonder in itself as it was lined with 700 half-metre panels of beaten gold whilst outside was a life-size scene of a field of corn with llamas and shepherds all made from gold and silver.

[1], In astronomy, Apu Inti and Churi Inti can actually be separated from one another along an astronomical axis. Media related to Inti at Wikimedia Commons. Written by Mark Cartwright, published on 07 March 2014 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. Inti ordered his children to build the Inca capital where a divine golden wedge they carried with them would penetrate the earth.

Their court is served by the Rainbow, the Pleiades, Venus, and others. This festival was attended by the four sectors of Tawantinsuyu.

He swims though the cool dark waters and emerges into another day refreshed after his early dip. As the sun he strolls across the sky every day before plunging into the ocean of night. Steele, Paul R., & Allen, Catherine J. The intihuatana were also used for regular astronomical observations of the sun and possibly other heavenly bodies. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Web. A great golden disk representing Inti was captured by the Spanish conquistadors in 1571 and was sent to the pope via Spain. Inti was the Sun and controlled all that implies: the Sun brings warmth, light and sunshine necessary for agriculture. This grew into a form of divine patronage and the convenience of these comparisons for Inca emperors is crucial.[15]. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Inti was married to the goddess of the moon Quilla. Inti was the sun, which in Inca mythology was created by the supreme Inca deity Viracocha from an island on Lake Titicaca. "[13] The second is Churi Inti, or "Son Inti," who represents the son of Inti and is often known as "Daylight." [11], The Incas would set aside large quantities of natural and human resources throughout the empire for Inti. Frankfurt, Alemania: Peter Lang Academic Research. Inti, also called Apu-punchau, in Inca religion, the sun god; he was believed to be the ancestor of the Incas. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/Inti/. Many such disks were supposedly held in Cusco as well as in shrines throughout the empire, especially at Qurikancha, where the most significant image of Inti was discovered by anthropologists. He also married his older sister, Mama Killa. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 07 Mar 2014. [10] The sun's heat was also thought to cause rain. A lively and informative new podcast for kids that the whole family will enjoy. The first of these is Apu Inti ("supreme Inti"). The Inca ruler was considered to be the living representative of Inti. He is revered as the national patron of the Inca state. Inti’s sister and consort was the moon, Mama-Kilya (or Mama-Quilla), who was portrayed as a silver disk with human features. Inti Facts and Figures He is revered as the national patron of the Inca state. She then conceived and bore him two children. The founding Inca ancestor, known as Manco Cápac, was thought to have been the son of Inti.

(2011). https://www.ancient.eu/Inti/. The Sun of May has possibly its roots in Inti as well and can be found on the Flag of Argentina and Flag of Uruguay. These rays were typically cut in a dramatic zig-zag fashion and sometimes ended in a small human face or figure. Each major province would also have a Sun Temple in which male and female priests would serve.

He is revered as the national patron of the Inca state. He holds an MA in Political Philosophy and is the Publishing Director at AHE. Inti was at the head of the state cult, and his worship was imposed throughout the Inca empire. Cartwright, M. (2014, March 07). Although most consider Inti the sun god, he is more appropriately viewed as a cluster of solar aspects, since the Inca divided his identity according to the stages of the sun. Cite This Work Inti. [12], Additionally, the chief temple of the Inca state religion was the Qurikancha in Cusco.

Inti Wawqi, however, is not associated with an astronomical location.[16]. The most common story says that he is the son of Viracocha, the god of civilization. During the rainy season the sun was hotter and brighter, while during the dry season it was weaker. For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization. His position placed him as the second most powerful person in the kingdom. Inca. (1984). "Inti." The emperor and his family were believed to be descended from Inti.[10]. Gold was particularly associated with the god as it was believed that the precious metal was the sweat of the sun. Inti was especially worshipped during the festival of Inti Raymi held during the winter solstice in June and run over several days. Mama Ocllo) who was also described as Inti's wife in some versions of the myth. In a later myth, Inti is the son of the Earth goddess Pachamama and the sky god Pachahiq. (2011). He was directly underneath the Sapa Inca, and they were often brothers. The festival of Inti Raymi has been revived as a great yearly festival in Cuzco, several national flags bear an image of him in the form of a flaming sun, and the currency of Peru in the 1980s CE was called the inti and even now still references him with its new name sol - sun in Spanish. [14], The worship of Inti and the rise of the Inti cult are considered to be exploitations of religion for political purposes, since the Inca king was increasingly identified with the sun god.