Qhapaq hucha

Capacocha or Qhapaq hucha (Quechua qhapaq noble, principal, mighty, royal, hucha crime, sin, guilt Hispanicized spellings Capac cocha, Capaccocha, Capacocha, also qhapaq ucha), also qhapaq ucha) was an important sacrificial rite among the Inca that typically involved the sacrifice of children. The phrase Capacocha has also been translated to mean "solemn sacrifice" or "royal obligation." The rationale for this type of sacrificial rite has typically been understood as the Inca trying to ensure that humanity's best were sent to join their deities.Capacocha ceremonies took place under several circumstances. Some were undertaken as the result of key events in the life of the Sapa Inca, the Inca Emperor, such as illness, his death, his succession to the throne, or the birth of a son. At other times, Capacocha ceremonies were undertaken to stop natural disasters or were performed during major festivals at important ceremonial sites.

Capacocha ceremonies were circular in nature, with sacrificial victims and material offerings being brought from local communities in the provinces to the capital of Cuzco before being redistributed to sacred places throughout the empire. This fulfilled political as well as religious goals. As such, capacocha sacrifices were usually not sacrificed in the region from which they originated.Capacocha ceremonies are often associated with high-altitude occurrences and the tops of mountains; however, these rituals were not limited to mountain peaks. Evidence of the practice of capacocha has been found at relatively lower altitudes such as around Lake Titicaca.

The capacocha sacrifice started at the capital city of Cuzco, on the order of the Sapa Inca. The first Sapa Inca to do this sacrifice was Pacha Kuti. The offering began in the city with some of the children, while other children were sacrificed in other locations and huacas, around the kingdom, as this large sacrifice trickled down so no location was left out of the offering. If a huaca was forgotten or left out, it could cause political uproar or displease the Gods.

Victims of child sacrifice were children of both genders, chosen for looks, and no region was exempt from the recruitment of these child sacrifices; they could come from any region of the empire. The male victims were no older than ten and girls could be up to age sixteen but must be a virgin when chosen; they had to be perfect, unblemished by even a freckle or scar. When they were looking for tributes the children would be sent along with other goods of tribute, like silver and gold, and camelids. Until the time of the sacrifice, the tributes were fed well, and those too young to eat would have their mothers with them to breastfeed. This was to ensure that they would be well fed and happy when they reach the gods. The children were paired off, girl and boy, and dressed finely like little royals. They were paraded around four large statues, of the Creator, the Sun God, the Moon God, and the Thunder God. The Sapa Inca would say to the priests then to divide the children, along with the other sacrifices, in four, for each of the four suyos. He would then order the priests to make their sacrifices at their main huaca. Then some children were cut open to have their hearts removed and others strangled. Their blood was used as paint on the idolic statues of the gods in the rest of the ceremony. When the sacrifices of children and material offerings were buried, the holes couldn't be made using any metal, but in the ceremony dug out using sharpened sticks.

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