Speaker
Description
The Inkas worshipped the Sun, and their emperor was thought to be the son of the Sun. They conquered most of the Andes and their former empire is replete with examples of their astronomy. They used solar positions on the horizon for calendrical purposes and managed their crops and religious festivals in this fashion. Many examples remain of their intentional light and shadow effects that demonstrate their sophisticated understanding of the Sun’s movement and of solar horizon events.
Evidence of their astronomy can only be fully understood in its cultural context. This presentation introduces the cosmic worldview of the Inkas from the perspective of oral traditions passed from one generation to the next among the Inkas’ living descendants. As such, Inka astronomy is explored with local insight rather than that of perspectives from North America or Europe.
