Qosqo Inkas' Sacred Capital

SPECIALIZED VOCABULARY

Acamama or Aqha-mama: ancient name of the city, prior to "Qosqo".

Alpaca or Paqocha (Vicugna pacos): domesticated South-American cameloid very appreciated for its wool and meat.

Altomisayoq: "whom says the high mass" : Andean Religion priest.

Ama Sua, Ama Llulla, Ama Kella: "Do not be a thief, liar, neither lazy"; three rules ascribed to the Inkan Society.

Andesite: dark granite, very common in the Andes.

Antisuyo: one of the four Tawantinsuyo's nations, identified in the jungle, toward Qosqo's east.

Apacheta: pile of divers elements left by travelers on the highest passes as offerings.

Apu: superior spirit or deity.

Auki: minor spirit or deity.

Ceque or Seque: imaginary line with a succession of temples.

Ch'arki: Jerk (Jerky), dehydrated meat (salty dried).

Ch'aska: Venus Star.

Chaski: relay runner in charge of taking messages.

Chicha: Spanish word naming the "Aqha" of Inkan Society; that is, fermented maize beer.

Chinchaysuyo: the Tawantinsuyo's northern nation.

Chinkana: "Where one may get lost", underground tunnel.

Ch'uño: dehydrated potato.

Contisuyo: Tawantinsuyo's nation located toward the west of the city, toward the coast.

Collasuyo: Tawantinsuyo's nation located toward the south of Qosqo, in the Peruvian Altiplano (high plateau).

Cuy, Cuye or Qowi: (Cavia porcellus) guinea pig or cavy, when roasted is the most symbolic main dish in the region.

Guanaco or Wanaku: (Lama guanicoe) non domesticated reddish South-American cameloid looking like a llama.

Hanan Pacha: World's level according to Andean Religion located in the sky or sidereal space.

Hanan or Hawan Qosqo: higher or upper Qosqo.

Haukaypata: "Ceremonial Square", it is argued that it was the original name of the Main Plaza.

Illapa: Andean God compound by thunder, lightning and thunderbolt.

Inka: Tawantinsuyo's king, monarch, or sovereign.

Inti or P'unchau: Sun God.

Inti Raymi: "Sun Festivity", the most important celebration in Inkan times, every winter solstice (June 21st).

Intiwatana: "Sun Fastener", modern name for "saywa" or solar observatory.

Jiwaya or Jiwayo: hematite, hard rock used as a hammer for carving some other softer stones.

Kacharpari: farewell party.

Kay Pacha: World's level according to Andean Religion located on the earth's surface.

Kallanka: completely roofed huge building that regularly served as lodge.

Kancha or Cancha: complex of different rooms around a central patio.

Killa or Mama Killa: "Moon" or "Mother Moon".

K'intu: offering made with three or more coca leaves.

Kiwicha or Amaranto: (Amaranthus caudatus) very rich and energetic small cereal.

...kuna: suffix denoting plural in the Quechua Language.

Kuraq Tayta: "elder father", major priest of Inkan Religion.

Kusipata: "Joy Plaza", nowadays it has the same name.

K'uychi: Rainbow, it was another Andean God.

Llama: (Lama glama) domesticated South-American cameloid.

Mallki: Inkan mummy.

Mitimaes: human groups displaced from their hometowns.

Mullu: (Spondylus sp.) marine shell representing the "mother sea", it was more valuable than any precious metal.

Ñust'a: princess.

Pachakamaq: Superior God of Peruvian Civilizations also identified as "Wiraqocha" or "Tonapa".

Pachamama: Mother Earth, deity worshipped even today.

Pago and Despacho: "Payment" and "Dispatch", offerings for divers deities, formed by organic, inorganic, manufactured elements, etc.

Panaka: Inka's extended family.

Panpamisayoq: "whom says mass on the earth", Andean Religion priest.

Paqo: "Priest" of Andean Religion. Paqos have different hierarchies.

Phaqcha: ceremonial water fountain.

Pututo: Andean trumpet made with a marine shell (Strombus galeatus).

Qamayoq or Camayoq: Quechua official in charge of care and maintenance of something; for example, "Qhipu Qamayoq": in charge of qhipus.

Qhatu: market where bartering prevails.

Qhipu or Khipu: accounting system based in multicolored strings and divers knots.

Quechua: modern name of the ancestral "Runa Simi" Andean Language.

Quinua or Quinoa: (Chenopodium quinoa), very energetic small cereal.

Qochamama: deity located in lakes or the sea.

Qollqa or Pirwa: storehouse for goods such as food, clothing, etc.

Qosqo: "navel", original name of the city in Inkan times.

Qoya: Queen, the Inka's wife.

Runa: man, common people, majority class.

Runa Simi: "man's language", native language of this corner of the world, also named "Qheswa" or "Quechua".

Sirvinakuy: modern name for the Andean Trial Marriage.

Tambo: Spanish form of "tanpu", it was a town or building offering lodge and supplies for travelers.

Tarwi: (Lupinus mutabilis), edible lupine beans that are very popular in high zones.

Tawantinsuyo: original name of the Inkan territory and society.

Tokapu: design found in textiles framed in a square; there are proofs that it was an ideo-graphic language.

Tukuyrikuq: "whom sees everything", official supervisor.

Ukhu Pacha: World's level according to Andean Religion located underground.

Urin or Uran Qosqo: lower Qosqo.

Usnu: high platform in the public plazas from which rulers or chiefs used to talk to their people.

Vicuna or Wik'uña: non domesticated South-American cameloid having the finest fiber (wool) in the world.

Waka or Guaca: temple or sanctuary.

Wakaypata: "Weeping Plaza", ancient name of the Plaza de Armas.

Wayrana: building having just three walls.

Willaq Uma: "Predicting Head", major Inkan Priest.

Willkamayu: "Sacred River", original name of the Urubamba or Vilcanota River.

Wiraqocha: invisible superior god of Peruvian civilizations also identified as "Pachacamaq" and "Tonapa".

Yakumama: (yaku = unu) "Mother Water".

Yanakuna: home servants of the Inkan society.

Select Another Chapter: