- Inti Raymi
The Inti Raymi ("Festival of the Sun") was a religious ceremony of the
Inca Empire in honor of the godInti . It also marked thewinter solstice and a new year in theAndes of theSouthern Hemisphere . Since 1944, a theatrical representation of the Inti Raymi has been taking place atSacsayhuamán (two km. fromCusco ) on June 24 of each year, attracting thousands oftourists and local visitors.During the Inca Empire, the Inti Raymi was the most important of four ceremonies celebrated in Cusco, as related by
Inca Garcilaso de la Vega . The ceremony was also said to indicate the mythical origin of the Incas, lasting nine days of colorful dances and processions, as well as animal sacrifices to ensure a good cropping season. The last Inti Raymi with the Inca Emperor's presence was carried out in1535 , after which the Spanish conquest and theCatholic Church suppressed it. Some natives participated in similar ceremonies in the years after, but it was completely prohibited in1572 by the ViceroyFrancisco de Toledo , who claimed it was a pagan ceremony opposed to the Catholic faith.In 1944, a historical reconstruction of the Inti Raymi was directed by Faustino Espinoza Navarro and indigenous actors. The first reconstruction was largely based on the chronicles of Garcilaso de la Vega and only referred to the religious ceremony.
See also
*
Cultural periods of Peru
*History of Peru
*Winter solstice External links
* [http://www.mon-photo.com/South_America/Peru_3/en.htm Inti Raymi Photo Gallery]
* [http://pa.photoshelter.com/c/quintinlake/gallery-show/G0000Ml5uEfunl48/ Inti Raymi 2008] Photographs by Quintin Lake
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