In religion the Peruvians acknowledged one Supreme Being as creator and
ruler of the universe, whom they called Pachacamac, or Viracocha. In all
the land there was only one temple dedicated to him, and this had
existed before the Incas began to rule. They also worshipped many other
gods, but the Sun was held far above the rest. In every town and village
were temples dedicated to him, and his worship was taught first of all
to every conquered tribe. His temple at Cuzco was called 'the Place of
Gold,' and the interior was a wonderful sight. On the western wall was a
representation of the Sun-god, a human face surrounded by numberless
rays of light. This was engraved upon a huge and massive plate of gold,
thickly powdered with emeralds and other precious stones. The beams of
the morning sun striking first upon this, and being reflected again upon
all the plates and studs of burnished gold with which the walls and
ceiling were entirely covered, lighted the whole temple with a more than
natural radiance. Even the cornices were of gold, and outside the temple
a broad belt of the precious metal was let into the stonework. Adjoining
this building were several smaller chapels. One consecrated to the Moon,
held next in reverence as the mother of the Incas, was decorated in an
exactly similar way, but with silver instead of gold, those of the
Stars, the Thunder and Lightning, and the Rainbow were equally beautiful
and gorgeous. Every vessel used in the temple services was of gold or
silver, and there were beside many figures of animals, and copies of
plants and flowers The greatest Sun festival was called 'Raymi;' at it
a llama was sacrificed, and from the appearance of its body the priest
sought to read the future. A fire was then kindled by focussing the
sun's rays with a mirror of polished metal upon a quantity of dried
cotton, or when the sky was clouded over, by means of friction; but this
was considered a bad omen. The sacred flame was entrusted to the care of
the Virgins of the Sun, and if by any chance it went out it was
considered to bode some great calamity to the nation. The festival ended
with a great banquet to all the people, who were regaled upon the flesh
of llamas, from the flocks of the Sun, while at the table of the Inca
and his nobles were served fine cakes kneaded of maize flour by the
Virgins of the Sun. These young maidens were chosen for their beauty
from the families of the Curacas and inferior nobles, and brought up in
the great convent-like establishments under the care of certain elderly
matrons, who instructed them in their religious duties, and taught them
to spin and embroider, and weave the vicuna wool for the temple hangings
and for the use of the Inca. They were entirely cut off from their own
people and from the world at large, only the Inca and the queen having
the right to enter those sacred precincts. From them the brides of the
Inca were chosen, for the law of the land allowed him to have as many
wives as he pleased. They lived in his various palaces throughout the
country, and at his death many of them sacrificed themselves willingly
that they might accompany him into his new existence. In this wonderful
monarchy each successive Inca seems to have been content with the policy
of his father, to have carried out his schemes and continued his
enterprises, so that the State moved steadily forward, as if under one
hand, in its great career of civilisation and conquest.