Spanish Word of the Day Archive
Friday September 20, 2013
Inti, proper noun:
Inti, the Inca sun god
Many religions were based on the cult of a sun god, including ancient Egyptian religion, Japanese Shinto, and the Inca religion. The Inca rulers believed they were descended from Inti, the sun god, and worshipping him was a state-imposed cult. He was usually portrayed as a human face within a sun disk. He lives on in the names of many Andean organizations, and in tourism, but above all in Inti Raymi, the annual festival of the winter solstice, held in Cuzco on 24 June, according to the Inca calendar. Inti Raymi marks the beginning of the sun’s new year, and is therefore a reason for celebration.
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