MOCHICA PEOPLE.

On the North coast of Peru, an ancient civilization -the Mochica- is renowned for its art, especially elaborately painted and modeled ceramic, gold work, monumental constructions (Huacas), and complex irrigation systems.
The Mochicas were very sophisticated and their artifacts express their lives with detailed scenes of hunting, fishing, sacrifice, sexual encounters and elaborate ceremonies.
The Mochicas were stratified into at least three levels of mentality. At the bottom were the commoners who carried out farming, fishing, and various required labors; at the top were the religious leaders and the royal families, and in between was the large urban middle class. It would seem that Mochica society was patriarchal, with males making many of the important decisions and serving as rulers. Tombs of some of the elite class, sometimes identified as priests, warriors, or rulers, have been excavated at sites as Two Heads (Dos Cabezas), Dark Hill (Loma Negra), Sipan, Ucupe, and other localities in the North Mochica region. In the Southern Mochica sphere, some elite tombs were also discovered at Huacas of Moche, as well as at The Wizard (El Brujo), though most of the contents of the tombs at these sites are gone.
In 1987 at the site of Sipan, an exceedingly rich tomb within a large architectural complex called Huaca Rajada (Broken Huaca), was found. The dead were entombed in the 3rd century CE below an eroded pyramid. In the first tomb, over 1000 Mochica pots and the burial of a seated male whose feet had been removed, were found. Below this layer was a 5 by 5 meter tomb containing the burial of an individual who has become known as the Lord of Sipan. This adult male wore richly decorated Mochica clothing, a crescent-shaped headdress of gold, a face mask of the same material, jewelry of gold and turquoise, and metal plates (of gold and silver) meant to protect his body. He carried a scepter also made of gold, and within the tomb were many objects made of gold, silver, shells, textiles, feathers, and other precious materials. These tomb contents are depicted on Mochica ceramics in scenes where such an individual presides over religious ceremonies. Along with the befooted man were six other burials: two males that flanked the main burial; a child was laid at the head of the tomb; three women were either at the feet or head in small coffins made of wood or cane. Food, in the form of meat and liquids, was also placed in the tomb. Another couple of tombs also displayed the wealth of the Mochica people. A male burial dubbed "the Priest," held a cup and also wore a headdress and a necklace of gold fashioned into beads with human faces in a variety of expressions. A befooted man also accompanied this burial as did two women.
The Mochicas engaged in ritual combat, in almost a gladiator style warfare in which two warriors of opposing sides fought literally to death. Most likely that warfare for both, religious and political reasons existed in the Mochica world. Ritualized warfare and the blood of the vanquished, whether foreign or natural, fed the gods and the rulers in the supernatural world. Religion and warfare were clearly hand-in-hand.
Mochica religion was very complex, evidenced by the Mochica deities depicted on vessels and murals.
They are generally anthropomorphic but often combine human and animal characteristics, representing priests wearing animal garb at ceremonies or the deities themselves. One of the most important being was the Decapitator god, a human/spider combination, responsible for human affairs and sacrificial offerings. Possibly priests, or even the ruler, were the medium by which this entity impersonated itself through the use of powerful herbs, at the sacrificial rituals. Other deities were associated with the burial of very important rulers: the Snake-Belt god, the Iguana god, and at least one female goddess of the moon. Other supernatural forces had animal forms and seem to accompany the anthropomorphic gods in their duties and ceremonies. The clear message is that rulers were closely tied to the gods, and they and their priests assumed the mantle of the god's powers during important religious ceremonies.
The Huaca del Sol, a pyramidal adobe structure on the Rio Moche, is the the largest pre-Inca structure that belonged to the Mochicas in Peru. It was partly destroyed and looted when the Europeans came to disgrace the religious value of the Mochica graves for the sake of gold in the 16th century. The nearby Huaca de la Luna is better preserved. Its interior walls still contains many colorful murals with complex iconography.
Moche's commoners were an agriculturally based society, with a significant level of intelligence invested in the construction of a network of irrigation canals for the diversion of river water to supply their crops. The sophisticated irrigation system is the reflection of what was cultivated in their collective minds. The system ensured sufficient harvests. The environmental change was certainty one of the factors that caused a major instability in their survival process.
An analysis on the traditional folk healing process placed in many of its ceramics suggests that religious control of craft production allowed the projection of every specific knowledge needed in order to maintain a harmonic use of the power of healing. Strategies were very complex in achieving this purpose.

THE ANDEAN GODDESS MOON: MAMA QUILLA.

Mama Quilla (Mother Moon) was the third power known as "Mother Moon,"after Inti (sun god) and Illapu (thunder god) during the time of the Inca empire. She was the sister and wife of Inti, daughter of Viracocha, the Creator god (husband of Mama Pacha), and mother of Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, known as the mythical founders of the Inca empire and culture.
Mama Quilla was viewed as more important than Inti (sun god) and was showed great respect by the ancient coastal communities of Northern Peru. The Aymara people that came to inhabit the coastal areas near Lima, following the breakup of the Wari culture, inhabited Pacha'Camac and constructed at least 16 pyramids and built or remodeled more structures continuing the growth and influence over the region (see middle picture). Later, the goddess also became the mother of the deity Pacha'Camac.
When the Chimu culture arose. with its capital the city of Chan Chan (first picture above), a large adobe city in the Moche Valley of present-day Trujillo, Peru, was built. Their land consisted of a narrow strip of desert land, 20 to 100 miles wide, between the Pacific Ocean and the Western slopes of the Andes, crossing here and there short rivers starting in the mountains and providing a series of green and fertile oases. The Chimu were known for its reverence to the moon and offerings to her played an important role. A common object for offerings was the shell of shell-fish (people picking up shells drawn over a stone is presented above), Spopndylus (thorny oyster), which live only in the warm coastal waters off present day Northern Tumbes and Piura, Peru, and Ecuador. Their key characteristic is that the two halves of their shells are joined with a ball-and-socket type of hinge rather than the toothed hinge, that is more common in other bi-valves. The oyster also retain vestigial anterior and posterior auricles (ears, triangular shell flaps) along the hinge line, a common feature of scallops though not of oysters. Like all scallops, Spondylus have multiple eyes around the edges of their shells and have relatively well-developed nervous systems. Their nervous ganglia are concentrated in the visceral region, with recognizable optic lobes connected to the eyes.
The Wari, the Pacha'Camac people, Chancay, and Chimu, all worshiped the Pacha'Camac deity. The Incas adopted Pacha'Camac when they incorporated all those cultures into their empire.
Mama Quilla, then, was the goddess of marriage and women's menstrual cycle, and considered a defender and protector of the feminine power. She was envisage in the form of a beautiful woman and respected because of her admirable beauty and her temples were served by dedicated priestesses.
Myths surrounded her include that she cried tears of silver and that lunar eclipses were caused when she was being attacked by an animal. The Incas, in particular, feared lunar eclipses as they also believed that during the eclipse, an animal was attacking Mama Quilla. Consequently, people attempted to scare away the animal by throwing weapons, gesturing and making as much noise as possible. They believed that if the animal achieved its aim, then the world would be left in darkness.
Mama Quilla was respected as a deity by the Andean people because of the benefits she bestowed upon their Andean world. She was important for calculating the passage of time and the lunar calendar,  and many rituals were based upon her calendar and adjusted to match the solar year. She was the regulator of women's menstrual cycles and the waxing and waning of the moon was used to calculate montly cycles, from which the time periods for Inca festivals were set.
Mama Quilla, as the wife of the sun god, Inti, had her own temple in Cuzco during Inca times. The temple did not shelter the priests, attendants, and the Chosen Women, since most ceremonies were held outside the temple property. They instead resided inside the most important shrines. The chief priest, who was of noble lineage, held his post for life, was married and his authority was similar as the one held by the Inca. Priests were chosen young by the ones more experienced who knew how to observe special qualities that denoted a predisposition or predestination of the individual to occupy such sacred seat.
Prediction was the prerequisite to all action. It was used to diagnose illness, the outcome of battles, to determine what sacrifice should be made to what entity or god. Life was believed to be controlled by the all-pervading unseen powers, and to determine these portents the priests and the Inca had enough authority to deal with it.
Inca religion was the main concern of the European explorers since their arrival to Inca land. It was vital to successfully convince them that they were friendly and meant no harm. However, the outcome was totally wrong....  .

THE ANDEAN VISCACHA.

Viscachas are a type of mountain rodents that are found at elevations from about 3,000 to 5,000 meters (13,000 to 16,000 ft) in the Andes Mountains, ranging from Central and Southern Peru, Central Bolivia, Northern and Central Chile, and in Western Argentina. It is quite unusual for a rodent to stray from underground burrows, but the animal has learned to transcend its inferior digging abilities and take advantage of its expert climbing skills.
Viscachas makes their home in larger, rugged and steeper portions of crevices in the rocky cliffs  in various mountainous habitats where suitable rocky outcrops and sparse vegetation are found. This preference is driven by a need to avoid predators, as land-based Andean mountain cats and aerial type of predators are more easily evaded on a steep slope. For this reason the rodent rarely ventures far from their habitats.
Viscachas run and leap among the rocks with incredible agility. They are able to jump from rock to rock with such ease and speed, that it is hard for the human eye to follow. With a body length of 1 to 2 feet and an average weight of 3 kilograms (6.6 lb), they are relatively large rodents, yet small in comparison to their carnivorous neighbors -the Puma and the Fox. These two by instinct are fierce predators, but the Viscacha has its own advantages: dexterity, speed, loud warning calls, and a home immerse in boulders and rocks.
Viscachas have thick, soft pelage, except on their tails where it is coarse. Their coloring typically shows dark gray or brown on top and white, yellow, or gray in the underside. Overall the rodent looks like a rabbit, however, their long bushy tail is a distinguish trait unique to its kind. This tail not only serves as species indicator, but can also tell if the animal is feeling anxious or relaxed: the tail is extended when the animal is in distress and curled when it is an easy. They have long, fur covered ears, edged with a fringe of white fur. All feet have four digits.
Viscachas are diurnal and most active near sunrise and sunset and sleep at night. They emerge from the clefts and crevices they colonizes, to forage for food. The rodent is herbivore and feeds on a wide variety of plant material, including grasses, mosses, roots and seeds. They are reputed to eat just any plant they encounter.
Viscachas like to bask in the sun while sitting erect on their hindquarters, and spend hours of the day on perches, grooming and sunning themselves. They do not hibernate.
Like all mountain viscachas, the rodent is a gregarious species that forms small to a very large colonies, comprising one or more family groups. It can range from a few individuals to hundreds. To keep up with the colony chatter, they have acquired an impressive repertoire of vocalizations that are use in social interactions. This vocalizations resonate with plenty of strength, even though they are small animals.
Viscachas breeding time usually takes place during October and November. Females have a short gestation period that only last about 4 to 5 months. At this time, the female gives birth to one fully developed offspring. Because the newborns are developed, the young are weaned at only 2 months. However, at two months the rodents are still very small and vulnerable, which makes colony living a necessity.

QUINOA SACRED SEED.

Quinoa of today comes to us from the flowering fields in the Peruvian and Bolivian deserts in the Andean Mountains of South America. The plant flourishes in the most hostile conditions, surviving nightly frosts and daytime temperatures upwards of 40C (104F). It is a high altitude plant, growing at 3,600 meters above sea level and even higher, where oxygen is very thin, water is scarce and the soil is so saline that virtually nothing else grows.
Quinoa belongs to the same family as the sugar beet, spinach and chard. This is referred to as the goose-foot family. Botanically, they are very similar. So quinoa isn't really a grain at all. It is actually a seed.
Because quinoa is part of the goose-foot family, it is a useful little plant. Its leaves can be eaten like spinach and the seeds can be cooked like rice, which is why quinoa is gluten-free. While no single food can supply all the essentials life sustaining nutrients, quinoa comes and shows why it is being called a complete protein. It contains all 9 of the essential amino acids, which cannot be made by the body and therefore must come from food. Its exceptional nutritional qualities led Nasa to include the seeds  as part of its astronauts diet on long space missions.
Quinoa, a broad-leafed aesthetically unique and beautiful plant, can germinate from 3 to 9 feet tall, or a little be higher than the height of a human. The seed heads can be just about any color like red, purple, orange, green, black or yellow and the stalks are a deep magenta.
Quinoa can grow in areas not generally thought to be very fertile because of its temperature preference. Quinoa plant is able to grow in very poor soil condition without fertilizer or irrigation but temperature is important. The plant prefers cooler temperatures and short days and can handle mild frost. It may not germinate if the temperature is too warm, but when conditions are favorable the plant germinates within 24 hours and produces seedlings within 3 to 5 days. Because of its fast germination, the plant needs a dry harvest. It is ready when the plant dries out, turn pale yellow or red, and lose all their leaves. At this point, the quinoa seed should be able to be barely dented that can be harvested easily by hand in a manner of combing the seed head. Those dried seeds are coated with a compound that would taste pretty bitter if the seeds are not properly soaked in water and then rinsed.
Quinoa is then a super crop and has a majestic history among one of the most powerful civilization on the American continent.
Quinoa originated in the high land mountains of Bolivia and Peru. It has been at the forefront of these regions for 10,000  years. It was a staple for the Incas and is still a prominent food source for their Andean descendants, the Quechua and Aymara people.
Quinoa was a sacred crop to the Incas who called it the mother of all grains or "Chisaya Mama". A legend states that the Inca emperor would ceremoniously break the ground with a golden tool and plant the first quinoa seed every year to show respect for what the plant provided to them.
During the European colonization of the Inca land, the Colonists scorned the quinoa as "food for Indians," going as far as actively suppressing and forbidding its cultivation. The plant fought its own war against the odds and flourished once again, finding its way onto our plates today.

ANDEAN REVERENCE TO LIFE POWER.

Andean traditions was and still is inseparable from society in general. All facets of community life is closely connected with it. One such continuing Andean tradition is the belief in a specific founder of the community and an association with a particular spot where that person had emerged from the earth.
Shamans, with their feared ability to cast spells and particular skill at predestination by reading the signs in fires, llama's intestines and such like, remains important in the Andean world.
The Andean people were and still are keen observers of celestial bodies mastering their movements and cycles. Accordingly, stars, constellations, and planets has their personified representation of power, especially the Pleiades (Colca), the Milky Way (Mayu), Orion's Belt, and Venus. They believe that all creatures have their own particular stellar equivalent which somehow governs and protect all its physical equivalents on earth.
The identification of such equivalence of power was the task pursued by many ancient Andean groups who built immediately a sacred structure to perform ceremonies, prayers, offerings to the entity in charge of that specific divine force. A hierarchical priesthood conducted such ceremonies, their status depending on the power of the force they were serving.
The Sun (Inti) in Inca time was the most important element in the Creation of the visible world. For the Inca themselves, the world began at Lake Titicaca (picture above), long previously considered a divine place for the Andean people and visited by the Inca rulers in regular pilgrimages. The Creator god (Viracocha) one day, on the sacred Island of the Sun on Lake Titicaca, made a race of giants but, finding these too big for his purpose, instead made humans on a smaller scale. This first race of humans upset the Creator god with their greed and arrogance and so as punishment the Creator turned some of them to stone and others into the earth and natural features. Then the Creator sent a great Flood to wipe the earth clean, saving only 3 humans so that they might start the race again. Also at the divine Lake Titicaca, the Creator then made the Sun, Moon and Stars in the visible world. Next, the Creator went traveling around disguised as a beggar and known as Kon-Tiki, among many other names. The Creator made carvings at Tiahuanaco, established Cuzco by directing the Inca founding couple (Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo) there, and taught the Andean people the art crafts of everything. Then, when the Creator arrived at the Coast, his being mysteriously walked away across the sea to the West, promising one day to return.
The Sun (Inti) then got the respect of the Andean people since it was considered the central power of life on earth in the visible world. In the invisible world, the entity home was also the destination in the next life for those who lived good lives in this one. The representative of this life power on earth was the Inca and all the Andean civilization legitimized the Inca rule as a divine one. A symbolic gold statue of the Sun, represented as a small seated boy (Punchao), with rays projecting from his head, was kept in the Temple of the Sun, at the Coricancha sacred complex at Cuzco. The rays were decorated with gold jewelry as a representation of the divine line of power from which the Inca race came from. The figure's stomach was used as a receptacle for the ashes of the burned vital organs of previous Inca rulers. Each day the statue was brought outside of the Temple to bask in the sun as a connecting feature with the divinity source. In addition to the Coricancha, the Sun (Inti) had the Temple-Fortress complex of Sacsayhuaman dedicated to his power, located just outside Cuzco.
The well-being of the ruler and the Empire and the guarantee of a good harvest (picture below) were entirely in the divine power of the Sun. The power was served by a dedicated High Priest, the most reverent religious figure, who was aided by a team of young virgin priests (acllas or acllayconas), exercising the duality of the entity and its power. Each major town had a temple and a vast amount of resources were dedicated to the source of the power. Even land and herds were reserved especially for the divinity and a whole province near Lake Titicaca was set aside for the divine power of the Sun. Inside the Coricancha a maize field complete with life-size llamas and shepherds was constructed out of pure gold symbolizing the purity of their service to the land and dedicated to the sacred power of life invested in the Sun (Inti).
One of the most important ceremonies in worship these sacred power of life is the Inti Raymi. The 8-9 days of thanksgiving is still held every June (winter) solstice on a plain outside Cuzco. The beginning of the ploughing season is marked by the festivity.
Deities still important in their particular domains, includes the earth goddess Pachamama in whose honor farmers built a special place in the centre of their fields where they could easily offer the best that they can in the hope of a good harvest.