Tiwanaku

Tiwanaku was a society in south Peru on the Altiplano about 12,500 feet above sea level. Lake Titicaca was Tiwanaku's main water source and helped with this society's agricultural needs. This society was a great empire from about 2400 B.P. to 1000 B.P. The Tiwanaku Empire developed through military conquests, rather than advantages due to the location of the city. This society had social complexity beyond that of any other society of its time. Farming, fishing and herding were done around Lake Titicaca which highly contributed to the success of Tiwanaku.

Art and religion in Tiwanaku had a huge influence on the people of the society. The name of the Faith of Tiwanaku remains unknown due to the fact that there was no written records from that time. Archaeologists have found, due to much study, a religious tradition through sculptural style and religion itself has been passed down through generations. The religious myths and ideas that were influenced by the Tiwanaku are fascinating.

This society played a legendary role as the place of genesis creation myth. This myth was passed on through generations by the Spanish and the Incas. The Inca emperors claimed direct descent from Tiwanaku's more ancient royal dynasties. There were many gods that the Tiwanaku worshiped. One of the most important gods was Viracocha, the God of Action, shaper of humanity, and a destroyer of many worlds. He arose from Lake Titicaca in the Andes mountains where he undertook the task of human creation. With two servants, Viracocha designed on a great piece of stone all the nations and people in which he intended to create. When finished he ordered his servants to memorize the names and locations of every tribe represented on the stone. Viracocha sent the two servants out in different directions naming the tribes and telling them to populate the world. Viracocha set out himself between the two servants and by every sound of his voice people obeyed and came forth from all areas of the land. In the myth of genesis the Incas described Tiwanaku as the holy place of human emergence. Viracocha sculpted humankind in stone at Tiwanaku and called them to life from the soul of the earth. Viracocha's face is enshrined on the "Gateway of the Sun" overlooking the land and the people he created.

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