Centellas sagradas : el culto al rayo en los Andes centrales

Abstract

Based on documents from the xvi and xvii centuries, this article analyzes the way the Llacuaces, ancient settlers of the central and north central mountains of Peru, worshiped the god of lightning. The aim is to show the way beliefs and ritual practices of the inhabitants of that region served as a pattern and influenced the social hierarchy of these communities. The result of the research was that ancestors were compared to the patron god and their descendants justified their privileged position in society as a result of that relationship.