Pre-hispanic women and myths- Mama Ocllo and Mama Huaco

 Pre Hispanic women and myths - Mama Ocllo and Mama Huaco

Currently, we find ourselves in a society that is in the process of recognizing the importance of women. We see support for outstanding women in sports, arts, business, health, among other sectors, but there is still a long way to go. This situation leads us to ask ourselves, what would our ancestors think when they see the slow process that is taking us? This question arises when investigating a little more in detail about the position that so many men and women had since pre-hispanic times. Throughout our investigation we found some relevant characters who highlight the importance of women since the beginning of our culture.

“Among the Incas, one of the most salient issues is the presence of two female archetypes: on the one hand, the domestic woman busy with household chores , the upbringing of children, the fulfillment of agricultural and textile tasks; and on the other hand, the tradition of the warrior woman, free and daring, who exercised the command of the armies and the power” (Rostworowski, 1995)

Analyzing the myth “Children of the Sun”, where Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo are sent by the God Inti to create a civilization, we realize the value that women, like Mama Ocllo, had in the Inca society; this value resided in the ability to raise and maintain a home. The myth describes her as a homely woman in charge of chores of the house and children's breeding, who also taught other women about agriculture and textile elaborations, essential for the development of the empire of the sun. It's a fact that this archetype of women was most likely to be submissive due to the nature of her role; however, we cannot imagine the birth of the Inca civilization without the role of Mama Ocllo leading other women in the indispensable task.

On the other hand, Felipe Guamán Poma de Ayala describes another type of powerful woman called Mama Huaco. According to the story, her role was mystical. For him she had some mystical faculties such as speaking with demons, likewise, he mentions that this lady made the stones and rocks speak, ýdulos guacas. But, in addition to the story of Guamán Poma, the chronicler Sarmiento de Gamboa defines her as a fearless woman, head of armies and with warrior skills, so much so that she explicitly explains how she ruthlessly kills a gualla causing the Gualla army to withdraw with just this action. Inca kings were born from this lady and Poma de Ayala affirms that Manco Cápac was her son, so we are dealing with incest between a mother and a son, which was a characteristic of the royal family.

“In several regions we find women who governed their lordships, a custom that was maintained until the beginning of the Republic, with the difference that during the Viceroy to the effective command held by the husband” (Rostworowski, 1995)

References

Rostworowski M. “La mujer en el Perú prehispánico” (1995). From https://repositorio.iep.org.pe/bitstream/handle/IEP/803/Rostworowski_Mujer-epoca-prehispanica.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y


Guamán Poma “Nueva corónica y buen gobierno” (1615), 7. The chapter of the queen. The first quya, Mama Huaco (120-121). From http://www5.kb.dk/permalink/2006/poma/121/en/text/