Qorikancha and Inca Cosmology

What caught my eye while we explored the Museo de Sitio Qorikancha was the repetition of the image of the Altar of Qorikancha. After seeing it depicted in several ways I decided to look up what this alter was all about. After reading parts of Paul Richard Steele's Handbook of Inca Mythology, I learned what the images in the alter may have meant to the Incas.

Altar of Qorikancha

The altar was created by Pachacuti Yamqui, a local chief in the 17th century, to depict Inca cosmology. The Qorikancha had cults dedicated to the sun, moon, rainbow, and other meteorological forces which can be seen in this plaque. At the top of the plaque is Viracocha, the creator. Going down vertically, we pass the sun, moon, and the Venus morning and evening stars. After that is the male and female humans. It is thought that this vertical descent shows the organization of the Inca state on the male side and the familial relationships on the female side. Looking at this plaque horizontally, we see dualities. In Inca cosmology it's believed that the universe is held in balance by opposing forces. For every image on the male side of the plaque is an opposing image on the female side.