Who was Manco Cápac?

According to some chroniclers, Manco Inca or Ayar Manco was the first governor and founder of Inca culture in Cusco (early 13th century).

Who compiled the legend?

It was compiled by Gómez Suárez de Figueroa, known as Inca Garcilaso de la Vega from 1563, who was a writer and historian.

Legend of Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo

The legend of Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo, also known as the legend of Lake Titicaca, was gathered and made known by the mestizo chronicler Inca Garcilaso de la Vega (1539-1616), described in his work Comentarios Reales.

The maternal lineage of Inca Garcilaso de la Vega held Inca respectability and was a direct source on the roots of Inca culture.

Manco Cápac or Ayar Manco

Manco Capac, or Ayar Manco, was the author and first legislative leader of the Incas. According to a Colla (legend of Manco Cápac), he was a semi-divine saint because he was the son of the Sun God (Inti).

The legend tells that in the regions around Lake Titicaca, people lived like wild creatures, as they had no religion, laws, or organization.

The inhabitants did not know agricultural techniques or materials, so they roamed naked, lived in caves, and their diet consisted of gathering food and hunting animals.

Seeing this reality, the Sun God Inti felt the need to send someone to socialize these people. Manco Cápac was a semi-divine hero, being the son of the Sun.

He was sent along with Mama Ocllo with the mission to civilize and organize the people who were in complete disorder, thus establishing a dominion to honor the Sun God Inti.

The Sun God Inti provided them with a shining rod, indicating that wherever it easily sank into the ground when they stopped to eat or rest, they should establish their settlement there.

Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo appeared among the waters of Lake Titicaca. The locals were amazed by the magnificence of their garments and the splendor of their jewels, which indicated to people that they were divine beings.

Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo traveled north. They spent many days without the gold rod sinking into the ground.

One morning, they landed in a magnificent valley surrounded by notable slopes and mountains, one of which was called Huanacauri, where the shining rod sank with little effort.

This was the land given to them by the Sun God Inti. There, Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo settled.

It was here that the city of Cusco, "The Navel of the World," the capital of the Inca Empire, was to be built.

Manco Cápac immediately began the construction project in the Cusco valley. He taught the people agriculture, fishing, house construction, science, religion, and more.

Mama Ocllo was tasked with training the women in domestic tasks and weaving to make garments for covering themselves.

Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo were the founders of the kingdom that later made their descendants extraordinary.

Summary of the Legend of Manco Cápac

Legend of Manco Cápac (Legend of the Colla), collected by Garcilaso de la Vega

Outline: According to this legend, "Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo," who were children of the Sun (Inti), emerged from the waters of Lake Titicaca. Fulfilling the mission entrusted to them by their father, they headed northwest from the Collao area, carrying a gold rod to test the land for its suitability, establishing their settlement where the rod sank.

They landed on the slope of Huanacaure, where the rod sank, and following their father's command, the Sun, they established the Inca Empire, with Cusco as its base.

Interpretation of the Legend of Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo

The legend involves legendary figures of celestial origin who undertake a crucial role in humanizing the region from south to north Peru.

This significance is symbolized by the rod sinking into the ground like planting a seed to flourish.

The clarification of this legend provides solid and genuine support as it shows that Manco Cápac speaks to an entire country, possibly Tiawanakus, who lived around the sacred lake.

As known, the most fertile lands are around the lake, which led to a population explosion and land shortage, forcing the nation to seek richer and broader areas.

It is also believed that the Tiawanako province, with its capital in Taypiqala, was destroyed by Aymara invaders from the Tucumán and Coquimbo regions in the south, and its people were forced to move to the Qosqo valley.

It is shown that the Tiawanako or Tiwanaku (Bolivian name) advancement had a definitive impact on the development of the Tawantinsuyo.

Legend of Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo for Children

The legend says that the Sun God (Inti) sent his children Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo from Lake Titicaca to establish human progress.

To support them, he gave them a Golden Rod and asked them to settle where the Rod would sink effortlessly.

Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo traveled for some time searching for the promised land until one day, when they arrived at the foot of Huanacaure and planted the Rod, it sank immediately.

Rejoicing, Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo established the city of Cusco as requested by the Sun God.

Over time, Manco Cápac taught people how to develop the land, hunt, build houses, and more. Mama Ocllo taught women to weave llama wool into clothing, as well as to cook and manage the household.

The Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo Legend PowerPoint

Download the legend in PPT 1: DESCARGAR

Download the legend in PPT 2: DESCARGAR

Images and drawings to color