Mama Killa : The Moon Goddess

Mama Killa

Introduction

Mama Quilla, revered as the Incan moon goddess, is alternatively referred to as Mama Killa or Mother Moon. She holds a special role as the protector of women and is associated with both marriage and the menstrual cycle. In the Inca culture, Mama Quilla played a vital role in their calendar, responsible for measuring the passage of time. In the heart of the Incan Empire, Cuzco, Peru, she had a dedicated temple where priestesses were devoted to her worship.

Physical Traits

Mythical tales about Mama Killa include stories of her shedding tears of silver and the belief that lunar eclipses occurred when she was under attack by a celestial creature. She was often depicted as a stunning woman, and her temples were tended to by devoted priestesses.

Family

Mama Quilla, the daughter of Viracocha, the Supreme Creator God, and Mama Cocha, the goddess of the sea, was wedded to and shared kinship with Inti, the sun god. Her sister was Pachamama, the goddess of the earth. From her union with Inti, Mama Quilla bore four offspring: Manco Cápac, who became the fire god and the initial ruler of the Incas; Mama Ocllo, the deity associated with spinning; Pachacamac, the god responsible for creating the earth; and Kon, the god overseeing rain and the South wind.

Other names

Mama Killa, the Incan moon goddess, goes by various names, including Mama Quilla, Mother Moon, Killa, and Mama-Kilya.

Powers and Abilities

The Incas held a deep fear of lunar eclipses, convinced that during these events, a menacing animal, possibly a mountain lion or serpent, was assaulting Mama Killa. Consequently, people sought to ward off this creature by hurling weapons, making frantic gestures, and creating loud noises. Their belief was rooted in the notion that if the animal succeeded in its attack, it would plunge the world into darkness. Remarkably, this tradition persisted even after the Incas had adopted Catholicism under the influence of the Conquistadors, a fact that the Spanish cleverly exploited.

Modern Day Influence

Mama Killa makes appearances in various facets of modern pop culture. In the video game Civilization VI, she lends her name to one of the unique abilities of the Inca civilization, providing them with additional food and production benefits from mountains. In Isabel Allende’s novel “The House of the Spirits,” Mama Killa is invoked as one of the deities by Clara, a clairvoyant character, during her spiritual rituals.

Furthermore, in the comic book series “The Unwritten” by Mike Carey and Peter Gross, Mama Killa takes on a unique role as one of the aspects of Leviathan, symbolizing cyclical and eternal stories. In this series, she appears as a towering figure crafted from moonlight, embodying the enduring nature of narratives.