READING 4: WHO WAS VIRACOCHA? 1.

In histories of Spains conquest of Peru, compiled from the archives of the Royal Academy of History in Madrid, youll find mentioned an obscure name that echoes back through preconquest America: Viracocha. The first Spaniard who came ashore in Peru was greeted by this name Viracocha! The natives spoke it with awe and wonder. From then on they murmured it often in saluting the newcomers. As Pizarros men began to understand the Inca language, they inferred that Viracocha meant something like foam of the sea, because the Inca word cocha meant sea. Although it might be a poetic fancy to hail a landing party as seafoam, still it didnt quite explain why these friendly natives spoke the name so reverently and so often. 2. Journeying inland, Pizarro kept hearing himself welcomed humbly as Viracocha. When he reached the court of the great Inca emperor Atahualpa, he discovered that the most learned men there had said that he, Pizarro, might, be the supreme Inca deity come down to earth a god called Viracocha, who carried the title Ancient lord, instructor of the world, creator. This puzzled Pizarro more than ever. But, as we know from history he didnt hesitate to take brutal advantage of his hosts inexplicable faith in him. Not until years later, during long talks with the natives, did Spanish missionaries begin to unravel the puzzle of Viracocha. 3. William Prescotts classic history, The Conquest of Peru, which pieced together the smallest details left by contemporaries of Pizarro, sums up the padres gleanings about the Inca god. A legend speaks of certain white and bearded men who, advancing from the shores of Lake Titicaca, established ascendancy over the natives and imparted to them the blessings of civilisation. This may remind us of the tradition existing among the Aztecs in respect to Quetzalcoatl, the good deity, who with similar aspect came up the great plateau from the east on a benevolent mission to the natives. The analogy is the more remarkable as there is no trace of any communication with, or even knowledge of, each other to be found in the two nations ....

4. The Peruvians, like so many other Indian races, acknowledged a Supreme Being, the creator of the universe, whom they adored under the different names of Pachacamac and Viracocha. No temple was raised to this invisible Being, save one only in the valley not far from the Spanish city of Lima. Even this temple had existed there before the country came under the sway of the Inca. 5. Apparently the Incas had heard about Viracocha from their own lesser gods. He seemed to be a holy man from the sea. Its not clear what sea (or lake?) is referred to, but whichever it was, the legends agree that when the Incas discovered the awesome empty settlement ten miles from Lake Titicaca, they were sure it had been built by the bearded white Messiah and his followers. Some legends told how this supreme teacher Viracocha had passed out of sight over the same sea when his work of creation was completed. 6. In one version the holy man preached a farewell sermon to a worshipping throng, and spoke of things that would happen in time to come. False prophets might arise but the people should not heed. Someday he and his helpers would revisit his people. Finally he spread his cloak on the sea, stood upon it with his followers, and departed over the water. A strange story. On that continent where beards and fair skins were unknown, could any natives have invented it? To the Incas it was as real and important as the Gospels were to the Spanish. Why else would the cry Viracocha at their first sight of bearded white men?

You are going to read a text about how Inca people believed that the explorer Pizarro was a holy man who came from the sea. For the following questions, click on the answer (A,B,C, or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
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Before Pizarros arrival in South America A white men with beards were known B white beards were common C white men with beards hadnt been seen D were first sighted

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Pizarro was puzzled A because he was the emperor Atahualpa B because it was thought he was an Inca deity C because he had called a god D because he carried a title
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Pizarro was greeted by the Inca A by Viracochas men B by welcoming Viracocha C by Viracocha D by the name Viracocha
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Lake Titicaca A was ten miles from an empty settlement B was a legend the Incas discovered C was ten miles from Viracocha D was an awesome empty settlement
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According to legend, people should not heed A a worshipping throng B false prophets C a strange story D the important Gospels
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The Incas had heard about Viracocha A from a holy man from the sea B from many Indian races C from the white Messiah D from lesser gods