Lieux sacrés et irrigation : tradition historique, mythes et rituels au Cuzco

In this article the ceque system of Incaic Cuzco is analyzed, on the basis of recent fieldwork, as a system of sightlines radiating outward from the central Temple of the Sun. One major reason that led the Incas to define the direction of ceque was their concern with water. During the feast dedicated to expelling illnesses from the valley of Cuzco, the principal ceques separating the four suyus were followed as far as the first major rivers ; but all ceques were also followed until a source was reached where water that entered the valley was ritually cleaned. Two important ceques are discussed that were directed towards the sources of two of the most important irrigation canals of Cuzco Place-names associated with these ceques and canals also played major role in Inca ancestor myths re-analysis is given of Inca concepts of social organization in Cuzco and of the mythical character of their history on the basis of these data on the spatial organization of the Cuzco valleyZuidema R. Lieux sacrés et irrigation : tradition historique, mythes et rituels au Cuzco. In: Annales. Economies, sociétés, civilisations. 33ᵉ année, N. 5-6, 1978. pp. 1037-1056