The Inca civilization flourished in the Andes mountains of South America between 1400 CE, and the early 1500’s. Inca society was a theocratic society, meaning that politics and religion were completely intertwined. The Inca religion combined features of animism, fetishism, and the worship of nature gods representing forces of nature. The state religion focused on the worship of a many major figures, of which the goddesses played a major role.
Pachamama was an earth goddess, associated with seasons, fertility, planting and harvesting. Her form embodied the mountains, and was also known to cause earthquakes. She was one of the primordial deities of the Inca pantheon, who sustained all life on earth. The Inca believed that problems arose when people took too much from nature, thus placing a great strain on Pachamama.
Mama Cocha was another primordial deity, who resided over the sea. She protected fishermen and sailors, making sure that they had plenty of fish, preventing storms, and calming the seas. She was said to have dominion over all bodies of water (i.e. rain, rivers and seas), which were said to have healing properties. As the wife of the supreme God Viracocha, Mama Cocha was the mother of Mama Quilla, Goddess of the moon, and her brother Inti, God of the sun.
Mama Killa resided over marriage and the menstrual cycle, and was considered a defender of women. Her lunar cycle helped the Inca people calculate the passage of time, upon which many rituals were based. The Inca people loved Mama Killa and believed that a lunar eclipse marked a moment where a mountain lion or serpent was attacking her. To protect their beloved moon goddess, they would attempt to scare it away by throwing weapons, gesturing wildly and making as much noise as possible. They feared that if the beast ever achieved its aim, then the world would be left in darkness.
Mama Ocllo was a fertility Goddess who founded the Inca capital Cuzco with her husband/brother Manco Capac. Legend says she gave Manco Capac a golden staff, telling him that wherever he could sink the staff into the ground with one push, he should build a temple to the sun. Once this sacred spot was found, Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo gathered the people together at Cuzco, and Mama Ocllo taught the women how to weave clothes and harvest crops.
Chasca (“The long-haired Star”) was the goddess of the dawn and twilight, linked to the planet Venus. She was the protectress of virgins and young girls, and associated with spring and renewal. She uses light to draw sprouts from the ground and inspire blossoms. She was regarded as a love goddess, and according to lore, she communicates to people through clouds and dew in a type of geomantic divination.
Cavillace was a virgin goddess. She ate a fruit, which was actually the sperm of Coniraya, a fertility god. When she gave birth to a son, she demanded that the father step forward. No one did, so she put the baby on the ground, and it crawled towards Coniraya. She was ashamed because of Coniraya’s low stature among the gods, and ran to the coast of Peru, where she changed herself and her son into rocks.
Copacati was a lake Goddess, who represented the great waters of Lake Titicaca. She was often represented by images of serpents or snakes and legend says she sunk a whole town into the waters of the great lake, making her a figure to be both feared and revered.
Sachamama was the goddess of the forest, whose name means ‘mother tree’. Legend says she grew so large, she can no longer move about the jungle and stayed in a single spot, allowing vegetation to grow over her body. If unsuspecting passersby got too close, Sachamama would devour them whole. She would remain for hundreds of years in the same place, and when she stood upright, she would take on the form of the world tree.
Mama Allpa was an Earth Goddess, who nourishes all life. She is depicted with multiple breasts, and represents the womb of the world. This links her with other many breasted goddesses, such as Ishtar (Mesopotamian) and Artemis (Greek). She helped to bring about a bountiful harvest, feeding the masses of the Inca Empire.
Mama Sara (“maize mother”) was the Goddess of grain and fertility, associated with maize. When a stick of maize developed multiple growths, it was said to look like the head and limbs of Mama Sara. In such cases, the Inca people would dress the maize like a doll, treating it as a manifestation of Mama Sara.
Mama Kuka was a coca Goddess, associated with health and joy. In Incan mythology Mama Kuka was originally a promiscuous woman who was cut in half by her many lovers. From her body grew the first coca plant the leaves of which are chewed to boost energy and are used by the Andean priests in ritual offerings known as k’intus.
Axomama was one of the daughters of Pachamama. Her name literally means Potato mother. Potatoes were a vital food source for the Incan people, and most villages would have a particularly odd-shaped potato to worship, embodying the spirit of Axomama. They would pray to this idol for a good harvest.
The majority of the goddesses in the Inca pantheon represented fertility and abundance. In order to maintain this plentiful living, the goddesses needed to be satisfied via the sacrifice of precious goods and animals, especially llamas. Humans were also sacrificed (albeit it on a smaller scale than other American cultures), by hitting them on the head while under the effects of alcohol. The hope was that they would be in a state of happiness when they first encountered their beloved goddess.
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