Sué | |
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Sun | |
Member of Muisca religion | |
Sué setting behind Bacatá
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Other names | Xué, Sua, Zuhe, Suhé |
Affiliation |
Chiminigagua (light) Cuchavira (rainbow) Chibchacum (rain) |
Major cult center | Sun Temple, Sugamuxi |
Day | Summer solstice |
Consort | Chía (Moon) |
Greek equivalent | Helios |
Roman equivalent | Sol |
Hinduism equivalent | Surya |
Region |
Altiplano Cundiboyacense Colombia |
Ethnic group | Muisca |
Sué, Xué, Sua, Zuhe or Suhé was the god of the Sun in the religion of the Muisca. He was married to Moon goddess Chía. The Muisca and their confederation were one of the four advanced civilizations of the Americas and developed their own religion on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense in the Andes. Both the Sun and rain, impersonated by Chibchacum, were very important for their agriculture.
After the creation of light and the world by Chiminigagua he created Chía and Sué to represent the Moon and the Sun respectively. Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada wrote about the Muisca: "they have the Sun and the Moon as breeders of all the things and believe they are together as husband and wife having created the councils".
While Chía was related to the zipas of the southern Muisca Confederation, Sué was governing the zaques of the northern Muisca. Also the cacique of Ramiriquí was related to Sué.
Sué was worshipped in the Temple of the Sun in Sugamuxi, currently known as Sogamoso, City of the Sun. Other temples attributed to Sué were in Bacatá and Guatavita. The original Sun Temple in Sogamoso has been destroyed by torch fires of the Spanish conquerors.