Amaru (mythology)

Amaru
A sketch of an Amaru
FolkloreInca mythology
For other uses, see Amaru.
An amaru depicted on a Qiru.

In mythology of Andean civilizations of South America, the amaru or katari (aymara) is a mythical serpent or dragon. In Inca mythology, Amaru is a huge double-headed serpent that dwells underground, at the bottom of lakes and rivers.[1] Illustrated with the heads of a bird and a puma, Amaru can be seen emerging from a central element in the center of a stepped mountain or pyramid motif in the Gateway of the Sun at Tiwanaku, Bolivia. When illustrated on religious vessels, amaru is often seen with bird-like feet and wings,[2] so that it resembles a dragon. Amaru is believed to be capable of transcending boundaries to and from the spiritual realm of the subterranean world.[2]

On Inca mythology it is described: "Dragon or rather a Chimera of Inca Mythology. It had multiple heads consisting of either a puma's, a condor's, or a llama's head with a fox's muzzle, condor wings, snake's body, fish's tail, and coated in crocodilian or lizard scales.[3] It was found frequently throughout Andean iconography and naming within the empire, and likely predates the rise of the Inca".

Another author stated: "(Sacred serpent) was a serpent or dragon deity often represented as a giant winged serpent, with crystalline eyes, a reddish snout, a llama head, taruka horns, and a fish tail.[4] Depending on the variations of the Amaru, whether in the various animal features, names or tonality of its skin according to the legend told, the ophidic form of the Amaru was always present. Its symbolism is very broad: water, storms, hail, wisdom, rainbow, the Milky Way, etc.[4] In Inca mythology, it was a symbol of wisdom, which is why the image of said totemic being was placed in the children of the Houses of Knowledge "Yachay Wasikuna".[4] Amaru is associated with the economy of water, that irrigate the agricultural lands, symbolizing the vitality of the water that allows the existence of the Aymara people.[4] Thus the deity Amaru symbolizes the water that runs through the irrigation canals, rivers and springs and that makes it possible for the seeds of the crop to be transformed into vegetables.[4] Amaru is a mythical being that is also related to the underworld, the earth and earthquakes. According to the myths, the Amarus have protective or destructive behavior.[4] There's a myth called "Amaru Aranway" that is about two powerful Amarus fighting against each other, causing destruction and death as the fight still goes on. Then, Viracocha send the god Illapa (Lightning) and Wayra (Wind) to defeat them.[4] The two Amarus tried to fight the gods but then they tried to escape flying to the skies, but Wayra drag them back to earth with the power of wind and Illapa fought and put the final blow to them. When the two Amarus died, they turned into the chain of mountains that are located in valle del Mantaro, Peru.[4]

  1. ^ Steele, Paul R. (2004). "Encyclopedia of Mythic Narratives, Themes, and Concepts". Handbook of Inca Mythology. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO. pp. 95–98. ISBN 1576073548.
  2. ^ a b Smith, S. (2011). "Generative landscapes: the step mountain motif in Tiwanaku iconography" (PDF). Ancient America. 12: 1–69. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-02-13. Retrieved 2014-04-27.
  3. ^ "List of dragons in mythology and folklore", Wikipedia, 2023-04-29, retrieved 2023-05-08
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Brian S. Bauer (June 1996). "Legitimization of the State in Inca Myth and Ritual". American Anthropologist. 98 (2): 327–337. doi:10.1525/aa.1996.98.2.02a00090. ISSN 0002-7294.