Paqariq Tampu

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Guaman Poma 1615: "IDOLOS DE LOS INGAS INTI, UANACAURI, TAMBOTOCO" (Idolos de los Incas Inti, Wanakawri, Tampu T'uqu)

In Inca mythology, one of the main Inca creation myths was that of the Ayar Brothers who emerged from a cave called Paqariq Tampu (also spelled Paqariqtampu) (Quechua paqariy to dawn / to be born, -q a suffix, tampu inn, lodge, hispanicized and mixed spellings Pacaritambo, Paccarectambo, Paccarec Tambo, Paccarictambo, Paccaric Tambo, Paqariq Tambo, Paccaritambo). This house was located on the hill Tampu T'uqu (Quechua t'uqu a niche, hole or gap in the wall, today also the modern word for "window", hispanicized Tambotoco, Tamputoco). It had three niches. According to the myth, the group of Maras Sutiq emerged from one of the niches, called Maras T'uqu (Maras Toco) by spontaneous generation [1]. Another theory held by more obscure groups, tending to dwell on the mysticism of South American Indians is that Paqariq Tampu is a quasi-mythical place believed by these historians to have been flooded by Lake Titicaca. Chronicles like the one of Guaman Poma (Quechua for hawk puma) mention Paqariq Tampu: "They say they came from Titicaca lake and from Tiahuanaco and they entered Tambo Toco and from there eight Inca brothers and sisters came out... Those eight brothers and sisters came out of Pacari Tanbo and they went to their idol huaca of Uana Cauri, coming from Collau towards the city of Cuzco".[1] Theories base themselves mainly on tales of the Chasa, another race or tribe thought by most to be as mythical, proclaim the name to actually come from the chasa word Pàchacambo (meaning birthing place of the gods Chaca, who they believed themselves to be.)