File:The myths of Mexico and Peru (1913) (14784132485).jpg

Identifier: mythsofmexicoper01spen (find matches)
Title: The myths of Mexico and Peru
Year: 1913 (1910s)
Authors: Spence, Lewis, 1874-1955
Subjects: Indians of Mexico Indian mythology Indians of Mexico Indians of South America Indian mythology Indians of South America
Publisher: New York, T. Y. Crowell company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
lighted. The victimwas slain and thrown upon it. The scene then pre-sented a striking contrast to the bleak surroundingwilderness. As the flames grew in strength and thesmoke rose higher and thicker the clear atmospherewas gradually illuminated from the east. When thesun advanced above the horizon the sacrifice was at itsheight. But for the crackling of the flames and themurmur of a babbling stream on its way down the hillto join the river below, the silence had hitherto beenunbroken. As the sun rose the Incas marched slowlyround the burning mass, plucking the wool from thescorched carcase, and chanting monotonously : OCreator, Sun and Thunder, be for ever young!Multiply the people ; let them ever be in peace ! The Citoc Raymi The most picturesque if not the most importantsolar festival was that of the Citoc Raymi (GraduallyIncreasing Sun), held in June, when nine days weregiven up to the ceremonial. A rigorous fast was observedfor three days previous to the event, during which no312
Text Appearing After Image:
Conducting the white llama to the spot where the sacrifice was to be made 312 William Sewell HUMAN SACRIFICE IN PERU fire must be kindled. On the fourth day the Inca,accompanied by the people en masse, proceeded to thegreat square of Cuzco to hail the rising sun, which theyawaited in silence. On its appearance they greeted itwith a joyous tumult, and, joining in procession,marched to the Golden Temple of the Sun, wherellamas were sacrificed, and a new fire was kindled bymeans of an arched mirror, followed by sacrificial offer-ings of grain, flowers, animals, and aromatic gums.This festival may be taken as typical of all the seasonalcelebrations. The Inca calendar was purely agriculturalin its basis, and marked in its great festivals the renewalor abandonment of the labours of the field. Its astro-nomical observations were not more advanced thanthose of the calendars of many American races other-wise inferior in civilisation. Human Sacrifice in Peru Writers ignorant of their subject ha

Note About Images