Cuchavira

Cuchavira
Rainbow
Member of Muisca religion
Cuchavira at sacred Lake Guatavita
Other names	Cuchaviva
Affiliation	Chibchacum (rain) Sué (Sun)
Region	Altiplano Cundiboyacense
Ethnic group	Muisca
Equivalents
Greek equivalent	Iris

Cuchavira or Cuchaviva is the rainbow deity, protector of working women and the sick in the religion of the Muisca.^[1] The Muisca and their confederation were one of the advanced civilizations of the Americas and in the fertile intermontane valley that forms the Altiplano Cundiboyacense in the Andes rain and sun were both very important for their agriculture. Moreover, in those days the Bogotá savanna consisted of various swamps and floodings were regular.

Description

Cuchavira, who was called "shining air", appeared before the Muisca when Bochica, the messenger of the supreme being Chiminigagua was sent to the plains of the Muisca. Also when rain god Chibchacum was angry, he sent heavy rains to the flatlands, causing the rivers to flood, destroying the agriculture and the houses (bohíos) of the Muisca. When the rains were over and the Sun was shining again, causing Cuchavira to appear, the people offered low-grade gold or gold-copper alloys (tumbaga), marine snails and small emeralds to thank him.^[2][3]

Gallery

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  Bogotá
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  Monguí
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  La Capilla
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  Guatavita
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  Tunja

See also

• Nencatacoa

References

Bibliography

• Ocampo López, Javier. 2013. Mitos y leyendas indígenas de Colombia — Indigenous myths and legends of Colombia. Plaza & Janes Editores Colombia S.A..

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Muisca

Topics
General Agriculture Architecture Art Astronomy Calendar Cuisine Economy Mummification Music Muysccubun Mythology Numerals Religion Society Toponyms Warfare Women Specific Battle of Pasca (~1470) Battle of Chocontá (~1490) Chicha Duit Emeralds Muisca raft Ruana Tejo Tunjo Zoratama The Salt People Zipaquirá Nemocón Tausa Sesquilé

Geography and history

Altiplano Cundiboyacense Bogotá River Frío Fucha Juan Amarillo Soacha Teusacá Torca Tunjuelo Bogotá savanna Suba Hills Wetlands Eastern Hills Flora & fauna Suárez River Ubaté-Chiquinquirá Valley Neighbouring areas Ocetá Páramo Tenza Valley History Prehistory (<10,000 BP) Lake Humboldt El Abra Tibitó Sueva Tequendama Lithic (10,000 - 2800 BP) Piedras del Tunjo Checua Galindo Nemocón Sáchica Aguazuque Lake Herrera El Infiernito Ceramic (>800 BC) Herrera (800 BC - 800) Early Muisca (800 - 1200) Muisca Confederation (~1450 - 1540) Cabildo Mayor (>2002)

Religion and mythology

Deities Chiminigagua Bachué Chía Sué Bochica Huitaca Chibchacum Cuchavira Nencatacoa Chaquén Chibafruime Guahaioque Sacred sites Built Sun Temple Moon Temple Cojines del Zaque Goranchacha Temple Hunzahúa Well Natural Fúquene Guasca Guatavita Iguaque Siecha Suesca Tota Ubaque Tequendama Falls Mythology Myths El Dorado Monster of Lake Tota Mythological figures Goranchacha Idacansás Pacanchique Thomagata

Caciques and neighbours

Northern caciques zaque of Hunza Hunzahúa Michuá Quemuenchatocha Aquiminzaque iraca of Suamox Nompanim Sugamuxi cacique of Tundama  Tundama Southern caciques zipa of Bacatá Meicuchuca Saguamanchica Nemequene Tisquesusa Sagipa cacique of Turmequé Diego de Torres y Moyachoque Neighbours Chibcha-speaking U'wa Sutagao Guane Lache Arawak-speaking Achagua Tegua Guayupe Cariban-speaking Panche Muzo Yarigui

Spanish conquest

Conquistadors Major Gonzalo de Quesada Hernán de Quesada Baltasar Maldonado Gonzalo Suárez Rendón Juan de Céspedes Juan de San Martín Minor Antonio Díaz de Cardoso Antonio de Lebrija Bartolomé Camacho Zambrano Gonzalo García Zorro Gonzalo Macías Hernán Venegas Carrillo Juan de Albarracín Juan del Junco Juan Tafur Lázaro Fonte Luis Lanchero Martín Galeano Martín Yañéz Tafur Miguel Holguín y Figueroa Ortún Velázquez de Velasco Pedro Fernández de Valenzuela Pedro Ruíz Corredor Neighbouring conquests Conquest of the Chibchan Nations Conquest of the Muzo Conquest of the Panche Battle of Tocarema (1538)

Research and collections

Scholars Acosta Acosta Samper De Aguado Arango Broadbent De Castellanos Celis Correal Duquesne Freyle Friede Gamboa Groot Hammen Humboldt Izquierdo Langebaek De Lugo Ocampo De Piedrahita De Quesada Reichel-Dolmatoff Schrimpff Simón Triana Uricoechea Zerda Publications Elegías (1589) El Carnero (1638) Epítome (1889) Research institutes ICANH Universidad Nacional Universidad de los Andes Universidad La Javeriana University of Pittsburgh UPTC Collections Museo del Oro Archaeology Museum of Sogamoso Archaeology Museum of Pasca Metropolitan Museum of Art

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