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were automatically considered partly divine. The Moon was also in control of weaving, something central to

Incan female life (Silverblatt, 2002). The Hacas Poma, when responding to a question regarding Inca

spirituality said,

“…all men adorned the Sun for having created them, because it was a tradition of their ancestors that the Sun

created men to his east, in Titicaca…and women were ordered to adore the Moon as the mother and creator of

women, who watched over food and gives them clothing.” (Silverblatt, 2002)

The sun represented the masculine element, the moon represented the feminine, and Viracocha was

androgynous, representing both male and female (Smith, 2008). Further reinforcing duality, there was also the

moon/sun, night/day, winter/summer (Smith, 2008). Reflecting on this, with the Moon being the wife of the

Sun, and each having created women and men, then this would have made women and men equal in Inca

spirituality. There have been accounts of women during Inca rule performing offerings during certain periods

of time, such as child birth, healthy children, and food production by filling a ceramic ‘conopa’ with llama fat

and blood (Silverblatt, 2002). Women were not angry at Shamanism and divine priesthood being dominated

by men, because they had their own personal sector and influence on spirituality and religion. The largest

example of this is the cult of the Pachamama, whom was the universal giver of life and food.

Incan duality represented by the Sun (masculine)

and the Moon (feminine).

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