Mama Ocllo
Also known as: Mama Ocllo Huaco, Mama Uqllu
Mythological Narrative
The founding ancestress of the Incas, sister and wife of Manco Cápac, who in Garcilaso's account taught the women of Cusco to spin, weave, and keep house while her brother taught the men to farm.
Scholarly Commentary & Evolution
## In Garcilaso
In Garcilaso de la Vega's *Royal Commentaries* (1609), Mama Ocllo is the Sun's daughter, sent with her brother Manco Cápac from Lake Titicaca to civilize humanity. When their golden rod sinks at Huanacauri, the pair separate to call the people together, he to the north of the valley and she to the south, and while Manco teaches the men agriculture and irrigation, Mama Ocllo teaches the women to spin, weave, and sew clothing. The division reflects the gendered order of Inca society, in which fine cloth was among the most valuable of all goods.
## In the Pacaritambo version
In Betanzos and Sarmiento, Mama Ocllo is one of the four sisters who emerge from the cave at Pacaritambo, and she becomes Manco's wife and the mother of the next ruler, Sinchi Roca. Sarmiento gives a more warlike role to another sister, Mama Huaco, who in his hostile account kills one of the valley's earlier inhabitants; this version has been read as reflecting both real conflict over the valley and Toledo's wish to depict the Incas as usurpers.
## Legacy
Like Manco, Mama Ocllo is a legendary ancestor rather than a securely historical figure. The Inca queen (*coya*) inherited her role as the Moon's earthly counterpart.
Academic Discussion & Critique
Exchange peer-reviewed hypotheses, comparative Indo-European etymologies, and archaeological field interpretations regarding Mama Ocllo.
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