The acllas: Inca "women of the sun"

The Inca empire covered a huge swathe of South America by the time of its discovery by Spanish explorers and conquerors in the 16th century. Their civilization was highly developed, as were their religious practices which were based on sun worship. Indeed, the name Inca means “people of the sun”.

The most popular deity of the Incas was Inti, the god of the sun. His temples were highly revered and tended by a special group of women known as “acllas” or “women of the sun”. These women were accorded every respect, and it has been suggested that the famed city of Machu Picchu was primarily a training ground for acllas.

To become an aclla a girl had to be chosen at the age of eight by a committee of elders who travelled through the villages of the empire looking for potential candidates. Unblemished beauty was the main criterion for selection, along with pure Inca ancestry. If a village girl was chosen for aclla training this was regarded as a great honour for both the family and the village.

A young aclla was taught how to weave priestly robes, make “chicha” (a ceremonial maize beer), prepare ritual food, and care for the mummified bodies of Inca ancestors. She would be housed in a part of the temple called the “acllahuasi”, which meant “house of the chosen women”.

At the age of 14 there was another decision made by the committee of elders which concerned an aclla’s future. It might be decided that the girl could return to her village or that she could move on to the next stage.

The highest rank she could obtain would be that of “mamacuna”, whose duties included looking after the temple, tending the sacred fires and assisting the priests in their rituals. A mamacuna was regarded almost like a saint who had direct contact with the gods, but she had to forswear sexual contact for her whole life which would be lived entirely in the acllahuasi. There is an interesting comparison here with the vestal virgins of ancient Rome who performed similar roles and were restricted in their private lives but were highly revered. This was clearly a case of parallel development, because the Incas would not have had any knowledge of what the Romans had done centuries earlier on a different continent.

Life was less certain for an aclla who did not get chosen either to become a mamacuna or return to her family. She might end up as a sacrificial offering to Inti, although this was also regarded as a huge privilege. Alternatively, she might become the concubine of a nobleman or military leader, or be married off as part of a political deal.

Whatever her fate, an aclla knew that she would be highly respected during her life and be honoured after death. One reason for the suggestion the Machu Picchu was an aclla “university” is that more than 80% of the mummified bodies found there were those of women.

© John Welford