Religion of the Incas.
The Incas worshiped many nature gods and goddesses. The most important of the gods were: Inti (The Sun God), Viracocha (The Creator), Illapa (The Weather/Thunder God), Pachamama (The Earth Goddess), Mamacocha (The Sea Goddess), and Mamaquilla (The Moon Goddess). Inti was considered to be the highest of the gods. The Incas believed that the royal family were direct descendants of the first emperor, Manco Capac and his sister-wife, Mama Occlo Huac0, who were children on Inti. The emperor always married his sister as his official wife, so his heir was a pure-blood descendent of Inti and ruled with divine authority.
Inca Sacrificial Ceremonials
Capacocha was the Inca practice of human sacrifice, mainly using children. The Incas performed child sacrifices during or after important events, such as the death of the Sapa Inca or during a famine. Children were selected as sacrificial victims because they were considered to be the purest of beings. These children were also physically perfect and healthy. The victims may be as young as 6 and as old as 15. The Incas used a special sacraficial knife known as a Tumi. It has a semi-circular blade usually made of either bronze, copper, wood, silver alloy, or gold alloy.
The Tumi was used for rituals and for burials of elite members of society.
The Tumi was used for rituals and for burials of elite members of society.