In this section, we will explore the Andean material symbol known as Huacas, waqa, or guaca, a term with which many researchers agree.
Looking back at the chroniclers and their linguistic analyses, the word “Huaca” carries varied meanings.
At its simplest, it is understood as a “sacred thing” (Garcilazo de la Vega, cited in Bauer, 2000).
However, other interpretations highlight its complexity.
Other interpretations
- For example, Brosseder (2018) explains that, according to Andean beliefs, the Huaca possessed powers beyond human understanding. It was linked to mythologization, often involving a narrative or ritual performance.
- Szeminski (cited in Ziólkowski, 2015) connects the Huaca to the world below, fertility, and territory. It portrays an entity capable of predicting the future or providing answers about it.
Furthermore, the Huaca served as a hierarchical and political symbol.
It was seen as an intermediary between the:
(Ziólkowski, 2015)
- Bauer (2000) conducts one of the most comprehensive studies on the Huacas in his book The Sacred Space of the Incas. He explains that sacred places and objects, known as Huacas, surround Cusco. A Huaca could be a mountain, river, spring, or stone, all imbued with cosmological power.
- For the Spanish conquerors, the Huaca was commonly interpreted as an “idol.”
The Huaca also served as the central temple of a Llaqta, a place where humans, gods, and the land meet.
From this temple, lines called Ziq’i emerged, often zig-zagging rather than straight, connecting various Huacas (Szemiński et al., 2018), thus creating a sacred map of the territory.
The concept of Huacas does not end here
These sacred entities could take various forms, such as oddly shaped potatoes, children with sunken palates, mummies, springs, caves, and, in some cases, star constellations.
In the Andean worldview, people believed the entire material universe was filled with spirit.
In this regard, we adopt the definition of Szemiński et al. (2018), who describe a Huaca as a place or sacred being through which the divine manifests.
Ceremonies surrounding these sacred places, especially those led by the maestros of the Apaza lineage, highlight the clear relationship between health, divination, and sacred spaces.
These maestros work with the sacred territories, establishing a strong connection between healing and territory.
This area requires further research, and I am committed to continuing the investigation.
Author
Joan De la colina Roman
References:
- Bauer, B. S., & Bauer, B. S. (2000). El espacio sagrado de los Incas: El sistema de ceques del Cuzco. Centro de Estudios Regionales Andinos «Bartolomé de las Casas».
- Brosseder, C. (2018). El poder de las huacas: Cambios y resistencia en los Andes del Perú colonial (R. Zeballos Rebaza, Trad.; Primera edición). Ediciones El Lector.
- Ziólkowski, M. S. (2015). Pachap Vnancha: El calendario metropolitano del estado inca (1ra edición). PTSL ; Ediciones El Lector.
- Szemiński, J., Ziółkowski, M. S., & Wachtel, N. (2018). Mitos, rituales y política de los incas (R. Zeballos Rebaza, Trad.; Primera edición). Ediciones El Lector.
