Above illustration: mummified inca child http://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/80/590x/31f23body-418736.jpg
Sacrifice - food, treasures and children
In ancient America, many cultures practiced sacrifice for various reasons.
Evidence has shown of this tradition to have existed in the Maya and Aztec, as well as the Moche civilisations.
However, Incan human sacrifice differs from the practices of many other ancient American peoples. The Aztecs, for instance, astounded and disgusted the Spanish by mass sacrifices of war prisoners For the Incas, to be sacrificed was a great honour, and their rituals were carried out with more humanity than in other civilisations.
Sacrifice generally means a presentation of gifts to a higher deity (god). For the Incas, many sacrifices were given to the Sun God, Inti, who was most important. These gifts included animals, plants, and material treasures, but also human life. Inca did not sacrifice adults, but children, probably because they believed that adults did not possess the unique quality and purity of children. Child sacrifice was called capacocha. The process of capacocha could begin years before the selected person was killed.
Three main theories exist to explain Incan motives for capacocha.
In all cases, the chosen one would be a messenger to the gods for the Inca.
Several mummified bodies reveal deformed skulls due to enormous pressure by binding of the head since birth. One girl's skull was molded into a conical shape to represent a mountain. Other heads show shapes of mountains with multiple peaks that signify the breasts of mountain goddesses.
In ancient America, many cultures practiced sacrifice for various reasons.
Evidence has shown of this tradition to have existed in the Maya and Aztec, as well as the Moche civilisations.
However, Incan human sacrifice differs from the practices of many other ancient American peoples. The Aztecs, for instance, astounded and disgusted the Spanish by mass sacrifices of war prisoners For the Incas, to be sacrificed was a great honour, and their rituals were carried out with more humanity than in other civilisations.
Sacrifice generally means a presentation of gifts to a higher deity (god). For the Incas, many sacrifices were given to the Sun God, Inti, who was most important. These gifts included animals, plants, and material treasures, but also human life. Inca did not sacrifice adults, but children, probably because they believed that adults did not possess the unique quality and purity of children. Child sacrifice was called capacocha. The process of capacocha could begin years before the selected person was killed.
Three main theories exist to explain Incan motives for capacocha.
- the Incans practiced this sacrifice in order to ensure a plentiful harvest, rain, and protection for the people. The Inca state held annual rituals where they sacrificed children to the gods in order to promote a healthy harvest and the working of the sun. Children were sometimes brought to ceremonies from their homes, then returned to be killed.
- children of local leaders were chosen because their parents would then be able to strengthen the parents links to the emperor.
- sacrifices were made as a response to important occurrences such as eclipses and deaths of emperors. The child selected would be perfect in order to escort the emperor to the afterlife.
In all cases, the chosen one would be a messenger to the gods for the Inca.
Several mummified bodies reveal deformed skulls due to enormous pressure by binding of the head since birth. One girl's skull was molded into a conical shape to represent a mountain. Other heads show shapes of mountains with multiple peaks that signify the breasts of mountain goddesses.