The Legend of Cuzco

To trace the origins of Cuzco, one must explore the myths and legends surrounding the birth of the most well-known civilization in South America: the Incas. It all begins a very long time ago, in a faraway land...

The legend tells that the first Inca appeared at Lake Titicaca. This lake, according to local knowledge, is actually a remnant of a flood that once inundated the entire planet (indeed, this flood myth can be found in many civilizations that normally had no contact with each other...).

The first Inca, named Manco Capac, was not alone (he would have gotten bored otherwise!): to keep him company was his sister Mama Ocllo, who was also his wife (killing two birds with one stone...). Both were created by Inti, the Sun God, who was himself created by Viracocha, the Creator God, king of Thunder and storms.

Under the guidance of their god, the sun, they set out in search of fertile land to establish their empire, with only a golden scepter as a tool (pretty nice of the God!). Manco Capac used it to probe the ground, for where the scepter sank easily, he would found his empire. One fine day, they finally arrived at a mountain surrounded by even larger mountains, and the scepter sank: they had completed their quest. It was here that they built the famous Inca city: Machu Picchu.

Thus, they founded Q'usqu around the 10th century. With this first mission accomplished, they moved on: Manco Capac taught the men agriculture and craftsmanship, while Mama Ocllo taught the women the art of weaving. A bit sexist, don't you think?

To thank the Sun God who created them, the first Incas built a temple in his honor: Coricancha. Today, this temple is also known as Santo Domingo, as the Spaniards used the foundations of Coricancha to build a church. This temple also fuels the legend of El Dorado: the surrounding wall was covered with a thin layer of gold!

Q'usqu means in Quechua > (that's quite something!). But the name has evolved through the ages. And when the Spanish colonizers arrived on the new continent, finding these barbaric names completely unpronounceable (and I confirm!), they decided to >. Thus, they renamed the city to the name we all know today: Cuzco.

Behind this tale lies the true history of the Inca people. Like all legends, this one has other versions, including one where there were four brothers at the origin. Regardless, many historians see Manco Capac as the true founder of Cuzco. If Manco Capac was indeed seeking new land, it was because his people were fleeing the Aymara. Their exodus in the Andean Altiplano brought them to the lush valley of Cuzco. However, their welcome was not a gentle rainbow, but rather by the three peoples then occupying the valley.

The God Viracocha was represented by the symbol of wisdom, common to many civilizations: he had the features of an old bearded man. Viracocha is the origin of all life for Andean peoples: he created the sun, the moon, and the stars, as well as the Island of the Sun (in Lake Titicaca) and mankind. But, according to legend, Viracocha did not stay in Peru and continued south until he left the continent. The legend foretold the return of the God... Imagine the faces of Latin American peoples when they saw the European colonizers arrive, all bearded after weeks of life at sea!