Wayna Qhari

Wayna Qhari is a mountain south of Cusco, its Quechua name meaning strong young man. Its summit was one of the most important wak'as of the Inca world.

In the dynasty's foundation legend, the Ayar siblings came out of the cave at Paqariq Tampu. Ayar Uchu chose to stay on this hill as a stone idol to speak with their father the Sun and intercede for the lineage. The story told how he flew toward the heavens, returned to tell Ayar Manco to take the name Manco Cápac, and turned into stone with his wings still spread.

He became the guardian wak'a of the new Cusco dynasty. Rulers and pilgrims visited until the Spanish conquest in 1533, after which chroniclers recorded its fame while the summit shrines fell into ruin.