investigate how the chavin gods may have influenced the inca

Question

A. The Chavin Staff Deity was a forerunner to the incan viracocha
B. The Chavin Staff Deity inspired Inca to worship the moon
C. The Chavin Staff Deity inspired the Inca to build an Adobe city
D. The Chavin Staff Deity was an agricultural God to the Inca

Answer 1

To investigate how the Chavín gods may have influenced the Inca, we can analyze the options provided:

A. The Chavín Staff Deity was a forerunner to the Incan Viracocha.

This assertion has merit because the Chavín culture (circa 900–200 BCE) was one of the earliest and most significant civilizations in the Andean region, and its religious imagery and deities, particularly the Staff Deity, influenced later cultures including the Inca. Viracocha, the creator god in Incan mythology, has parallels in attributes and symbolism with the Chavín deities, indicating a potential lineage of belief systems.

B. The Chavín Staff Deity inspired the Inca to worship the moon.

While the Chavín did have diverse deities, the primary identification with lunar worship is more closely related to cultures like the Moche and later, the Inca with their own moon goddess, Mama Quilla. This option may not accurately reflect a direct link or specific inspiration from Chavín to Incan lunar worship.

C. The Chavín Staff Deity inspired the Inca to build an Adobe city.

While the Chavín civilization utilized various materials in their architecture, including adobe, the Inca were characterized by their impressive stone construction techniques rather than adobe structures. This option does not accurately convey the influence of the Chavín deities on Incan architecture.

D. The Chavín Staff Deity was an agricultural god to the Inca.

This assertion is somewhat misleading. While Chavín culture included a variety of gods and agricultural practices, the direct lineage of agricultural deities is more complicated. The Inca did have agricultural gods, like Pachamama (Mother Earth), but attributing this specifically to the influence of the Chavín Staff Deity lacks strong evidence.

Conclusion:

The most plausible option that represents a likely influence of Chavín deities on Incan cultural and religious practices is A. The connection between the Chavín Staff Deity and Incan gods such as Viracocha showcases a continuity in Andean religious beliefs that likely influenced the development of the Inca civilization.