Gods in Real Places: the Andes
Exploring how Andean peoples wove mountains, rivers, springs and temples into a living landscape of gods and spirits.
Chapters
- 0:07 Living Mountains: Apus and the Sky
- 1:34 Water as Sacred Life
- 3:01 Stone Temples and Solar Power
- 4:46 High‑Altitude Offerings and Legacy
On-screen text
- 0:07 Living Mountains: Apus and the Sky
- 0:14 Living Mountains: Apus and the Sky
- 0:31 Ausangate: supreme mountain deity Tradition / scripture · Huarochirí Manuscript (c. 1600)
- 0:49 Salkantay: feared mountain spirit Tradition / scripture · Huarochirí Manuscript (c. 1600)
- 1:07 Coricancha: golden sun temple Historical record · Garcilaso de la Vega, 'Comentarios Reales' (1609)
- 1:25 Coca offerings to Apus Tradition / scripture · Bernabé Cobo, 'Historia de la fundación de Lima' (1653)
- 1:34 Water as Sacred Life
- 1:41 Water as Sacred Life
- 1:58 Lake Titicaca: divine womb Tradition / scripture · Aymara oral tradition recorded by Cobo (1653)
- 2:16 Stone channels feed Coricancha Historical record · Excavation report of Cusco's water system (1975, Instituto Nacional de Cultura)
- 2:34 Llactapata spring ritual basin Historical record · Archaeological report of Llactapata, Machu Picchu (1998, Yale University)
- 2:52 Coca offerings to Apus Tradition / scripture · Bernabé Cobo, 'Historia de la fundación de Lima' (1653)
- 3:01 Stone Temples and Solar Power
- 3:08 Stone Temples and Solar Power
- 3:25 Coricancha: golden sun temple Historical record · Garcilaso de la Vega, 'Comentarios Reales' (1609)
- 3:43 Intihuatana: solar stone Historical record · Machu Picchu archaeological survey (1911, Hiram Bingham)
- 4:01 Sacsayhuamán: earth spirit stonework The Institute's interpretation · John H. Rowe, 'Inca Culture at the Time of the Spanish Conquest' (1946)
- 4:19 Huayna Picchu altar by Pachacuti Historical record · Inca royal chronicle, 'Titu Cusi Yupanqui' (c. 1560)
- 4:37 Qhapaq Ñan: sacred road network Historical record · UNESCO World Heritage nomination (2009) for Qhapaq Ñan
- 4:46 High‑Altitude Offerings and Legacy
- 4:53 Machu Picchu, Peru, c. 1500 CE
- 5:11 Intihuatana aligns with sun at winter solstice (Bingham 1911) Historical record · Machu Picchu archaeological survey (1911, Hiram Bingham)
- 5:29 Qhapaq Ñan linked sacred sites (UNESCO 2009) Historical record · UNESCO World Heritage nomination (2009) for Qhapaq Ñan
- 6:12 Frozen child sacrifice found on Ampato (1995) Historical record · Mummy of the Inca ruler Juanita (discovered 1995, Museo Santuarios Andinos)
- 7:20 Andes, present day
Sources
Historical record: Garcilaso de la Vega, 'Comentarios Reales' (1609) · Excavation report of Cusco's water system (1975, Instituto Nacional de Cultura) · Archaeological report of Llactapata, Machu Picchu (1998, Yale University) · Machu Picchu archaeological survey (1911, Hiram Bingham) · Inca royal chronicle, 'Titu Cusi Yupanqui' (c. 1560) · UNESCO World Heritage nomination (2009) for Qhapaq Ñan · Mummy of the Inca ruler Juanita (discovered 1995, Museo Santuarios Andinos)
Tradition / scripture: Huarochirí Manuscript (c. 1600) · Bernabé Cobo, 'Historia de la fundación de Lima' (1653) · Aymara oral tradition recorded by Cobo (1653)
The Institute's interpretation: John H. Rowe, 'Inca Culture at the Time of the Spanish Conquest' (1946)
Sound: synthesized ambient (wind, drone, water) (CC0 — made by SoapBox). Made in 195 s of CPU.
Scenes Hathor has no parts for yet (4) — the next things to make
- Pilgrims in llama‑laden caravans walk the stone‑paved Qhapaq Ñan, clouds drifting low over the ridge.
- Modern hikers in bright jackets ascend the snow‑capped slopes of Ampato, pausing to gaze at the summit.
- Llamas burdened with woven bundles navigate a narrow, steep path, clouds swirling below.
- Final wide shot of the Andes ridge, clouds drifting, the sun dipping behind distant peaks.