Mama Killa or Mama Quilla is a significant deity in the Inca mythology of ancient Peru, representing the moon. Here are detailed insights into this deity:
- Name and Titles: Known as Mama Killa or Mama Quilla, where "Mama" means mother, and "Killa" or "Quilla" signifies moon. She was also known as Kilyray in some regions, particularly among the Aymara people.
- Role in Mythology:
- Mama Killa was considered the sister and wife of Inti, the sun god, highlighting her status in the celestial hierarchy.
- She was believed to be the mother of the Inca emperors, thus linking the royal lineage to the divine.
- Her role extended to being a protector of women, especially during childbirth, as well as a goddess of marriage and fertility.
- Representation and Worship:
- Mama Killa was often depicted as a beautiful woman with the moon on her forehead or as a silver disk representing the moon.
- Her worship was integral to the Inca religion, with festivals like the Situa dedicated to her, where purification rituals were performed to cleanse sins and ensure good harvests.
- Her temples, like the Coricancha in Cusco, were adorned with silver, symbolizing the moon.
- Symbolism:
- The moon's phases were believed to reflect Mama Killa's moods, influencing agricultural practices and societal behavior.
- She was also associated with water, as the moon affects tides, and was thus linked to agriculture through irrigation.
- Historical Context:
- The worship of Mama Killa was part of the broader Inca empire's efforts to integrate various Andean cultures into their religious framework.
- With the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, many aspects of Inca mythology, including Mama Killa, were suppressed or syncretized with Catholicism.
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