Illapa : The Thunder God

Illapa

Introduction

The god of thunder was Illapa, and he was responsible for various types of weather phenomena, such as lightning, hail, and thunder. In order to appease him, offerings were made to him, and among these was llama fetuses. The weather god was also regarded as the god of war and war. He provided rain for the people, and they would often address his requests to nourish their lands.

In various places in Peru, there are temples dedicated to Illapu. One of these is located in Sacsayhuaman, which is a fortress that’s located near the city of Cusco. Images from a drone show that the walls of this structure have been zigzagging, which is a reflection of the lightning’s shape. During times of drought, people would often visit these temples.

Offerings to Illapu were performed in various ways, such as through sacrifices. According to some people, the shadow of the weather god was located in the Milky Way.

Physical Traits

Illapa was also depicted as a fierce warrior who was wearing glittering garments and holding a sling. According to legend, he was known to have an imposing presence, and he was carrying a club, a sling, and various precious jewels. The thunder was his sling’s crack, while the lightning was his outfit’s flashing.

Family

Illapa was the son of Inti, and he had a kind heart as he was the son of a god. It is believed that he was tasked with taking care of a jug of water found in the Milky Way, and he would use his sling to launch a projectile, which would produce a roar and cause thunder, lightning, sparks, and rain.

Other names

Illapa, who is also referred to as Chuquilla, Intillapa, Libiac, Cautilla or Intilla, is regarded as one of the most significant gods following Inti and Viracocha.

Powers and Abilities

According to the ancient settlers, he was known to play his pan whenever he was on the ground, which would cause the trees and stones to come to life. It is believed that Illapa loved all creatures on the planet, and during times of drought, people would bow down to him and tie black dogs to prevent them from starving. They would also pray for rain so that the animals would survive. If the animals die, Illapa would throw a thunderbolt to scatter the remains of those who were killed.

Illapa abhors injustices, as he would punish those who do him wrong by throwing lightning at them. He would also give people his gavel, which can defeat death, if they perform acts of kindness for another individual.

Modern Day Influence

When the Spaniards arrived in Sacsayhuaman, they adopted the image of Santiago Apstol. This god was made more prominent after one of the encounters in the area, where the Spaniards were facing the Incas. During this time, the Spaniards won the battle due to the fall of lightning, and people started referring to the weapons of the Spaniards as illapas.

During drought, people would perform pilgrimages to the temples and offer sacrifices. They believed that the rain that Illapu poured down as rain came from his shadow, which was in the Milky Way. The people prayed for rain and for Illapu’s protection.