Leyenda del lago TITICACA: perú

Summary

The legend of Lake Titicaca tells the story of a peaceful valley blessed by gods, where the people lived in harmony. However, a malicious spirit tempted them to defy the gods by climbing a sacred mountain. As a result, the gods unleashed pumas to punish the disobedient, flooding the valley with the tears of Inti, the Sun god. The once fertile land transformed into Lake Titicaca, and the pumas turned to stone. This myth explains the lake's mysterious origin and its significance as the highest navigable lake in the world, known as the 'Lake of the Stone Pumas.'

Takeaways

• 😀 Humans have always been curious about the origins of things, as shown in myths and legends.
• 😀 Myths and legends are important for the construction of identity and memory in cultures.
• 😀 The legend of Lake Titicaca originates from an ancient Andean myth.
• 😀 Before the lake existed, there was a fertile valley where people lived in harmony and peace.
• 😀 The inhabitants of the valley were blessed by the gods with light, rain for crops, and fertile land for food.
• 😀 The gods, known as the sapus, protected the valley's people and kept them free from negative emotions like hatred and greed.
• 😀 The sapus had one rule: the people were forbidden from climbing to the top of a mountain where the sacred fire was kept.
• 😀 A malicious spirit, jealous of the people's happiness, tempted them to break the rule and explore the forbidden mountain.
• 😀 The spirit's tricks led the people to defy the sapus, and they were punished by being attacked by pumas sent by the gods.
• 😀 The valley was flooded by the tears of Inti, the sun god, and became Lake Titicaca, with the pumas transformed into stone statues, hence the lake's alternate name: the 'Lake of Stone Pumas.'

Q & A

What was the initial state of the valley before Lake Titicaca existed?

Before Lake Titicaca existed, the valley was fertile and its citizens were happy, with everything they needed for survival, including light, rain for crops, and land for food.

Who were the 'sapus' in the legend?

The 'sapus' were the mountain gods who protected the people of the valley and provided them with everything they needed, ensuring they lived in peace.

What was the one rule that the people of the valley had to follow?

The people were forbidden from climbing to the top of one particular mountain where the sacred fire was kept.

What caused the people to disobey the gods' warning?

A malevolent spirit, jealous of the people's happiness, tempted them to follow their curiosity and disobey the gods by climbing the forbidden mountain.

What was the consequence of the people disobeying the gods?

As punishment for their disobedience, the sapus sent hundreds of thousands of pumas to devour those who had climbed the mountain.

What was the reaction of the Sun God, Inti, upon seeing the devastation?

Inti, the Sun God, was deeply saddened by the destruction and began to cry nonstop, causing the valley to flood and transform into Lake Titicaca.

Who survived the catastrophe, and how did they escape?

Only one man and one woman survived the catastrophe. They managed to escape on a raft made of reeds and witnessed the transformation of their valley into a lake.

What happened to the pumas that were sent by the gods?

The pumas that had been sent to punish the disobedient people were turned into stones, which can still be seen today around the lake.

What is the significance of Lake Titicaca in the present day?

Lake Titicaca is known for being the highest navigable lake in the world and is famous for its incredible islands. It also holds cultural and historical significance, rooted in the legend.

What is the alternative name for Lake Titicaca mentioned in the legend?

Lake Titicaca is also called the 'Lake of the Stone Pumas' because the pumas that were sent to punish the people turned into stone and can be seen from space.