Iraca and Ramiriquí: Myth of the origin of humans, the sun and the moon (Chibchas)

Retells an ancient myth Chibcha that he origin of humanity, the sun and the moon Thanks were given to the chiefs Iraca and Ramiriquí.

In the beginning all creation was covered in darkness, the world was inhabited only by Iraca and his nephew Ramiriqui who inhabited a vast expanse of land as chiefs of the same, these were abundant in natural wealth, especially endowed with rivers and lagoons like those of Hunza, Tinjaca, Guatavita and Iguaque, all this territory delimited by large mountain ranges.

(Read Also: Myth of the Origin of the Sun and the Moon according to the Arhuaco indigenous people)

One day Iraca and Ramiriquí decided to populate the earth with something different from the animals that already existed to end the loneliness in which they lived, so Iraca created the man's body from yellow clay and Ramiriquí used reeds (plant of hollow stems) and created the body of the woman, happy with their work they continued creating more bodies until they created a sufficient quantity to populate their empire, then with a divine breath from the creator they acquired life.

But even with the company of all humans they did not feel satisfied, they discussed how they could give light to the world, because they imagined that this could be the opposite of the perennial darkness in which they lived, having no knowledge of how to create that world. light that they imagined, they decided that Ramiriquí would go look for that light upwards, to that place where the gaze was directed, and it began to rise in a straight line towards the sky, when it reached great heights it began to emit a great light and transformed into a Sol, then they could see their entire vast empire, nature, the lagoons, the mountains, the animals, the rivers, the humans and everything that surrounded them.

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The humans were happy at that event but their happiness did not last long because Ramiriquí hid after hours and then they learned that it was night, many hours later Ramiriquí reappeared and once again provided light and heat, then they understood that it was day, Iraca was not there. completely happy because he thought that he should find a way to provide them with light also at night, so when the afternoon began to rise towards the heavens and when he reached great heights he began to emit rays of white light, this light was different from the yellow one that Its nephew emitted less powerful but it allowed it to illuminate the dark night and thus became the Moon.

Since that time the Chibcha people call the Sun Ramiriquí and the Moon Iraca; As a sign of respect for this act, the Chibcha people celebrated a festival in Sogamoso called “huan” celebration that they held in December because it is said that it was at this time that such an event occurred, at said party twelve Indians dressed in red with garlands of colorful feathers and small birds came out, guided by an indigenous person dressed in blue; They all sang and remembered “how they were all mortal and would turn into ashes, without knowing the end of their souls.”

¿Cuál es el origen del Mito sobre la creación de la humanidad, el sol y la luna?

This Myth has its origin in the Chibcha indigenous people who are part of the Muisca culture, settled in what is today the Boyacá department in Colombia, originated in what was formerly known as the chiefdom of Iraca (Sogamoso) and Ramiriquí, who were part of the so-called “Muisca Confederation”; The Muisca people have several myths about the origin of the world and the stars; Therefore, it is suggested that this myth originated within a chiefdom to give more value to its governance before its people; As a curious fact, there are municipalities in this department called Sogamoso and Ramiriquí; in honor of the chiefdoms that governed these lands and from which these myths emerged.

(Read Also: Myth of Bachué: The progenitor goddess of humanity (Muiscas))

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