Culto al agua y a los ancestros en la Escultura Monumental Inka de Chinkana Grande en Saqsaywaman, Cusco

Bibliographic Data

ID19230769
AuthorsHubert Zuayer (0000-0003-1550-4052, Universidade dos Açores, corresponding author)
Year2026
Pages1-29
Publication date2026-06-11
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueÑawpa Pacha (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0077-6297 • E-ISSN: 2051-6207
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00776297.2026.2665763
OpenAlexW7164375089
LanguageES
References cited24

Investigating one of the most significant Inca wak'a in Cusco required an innovative approach to analyzing the elements sculpted on Inca rocks, or Inca Monumental Sculpture (IMS). Studying the dimensions and arrangement of the carvings in complex compositions helped to understand the function of the symbols. Some carvings were used in ritual events to offer food to the wak'a, to the ancestors, and to the sacred carved beings that resided there: qoa chinchay and hampatu. The wak'a itself was a monumental water deity in the form of hampatu (enqaychu) and a natural ushnu (a raised platform). These entities encouraged the petitioning of water from the sky and the earth for agriculture. Thus, the Incas manipulated these sanctuaries to politically and economically appropriate the conquered landscape

Kingdom · Natural (archaeology) · Sculpture · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Latin American history and culture · Mexican Socioeconomic and Environmental Dynamics

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