Meicuchuca (died 1470) was the first ruler (zipa) of Bacatá, as of around 1450. His zaque counterpart ruling over the northern area of the Muisca territory was Hunzahúa.
Meicuchuca
Zipa of Bacatá
portrait of Meicuchuca, by: Andrés Camilo Bohórquez Roa
Little is known about Meicuchuca and many stories about his reign are more mythical than historical. He ruled the southern Muisca territory from around 1450 to 1470 and was succeeded according to Muisca heritage laws by his nephew Saguamanchica.
Meicuchuca and the snakeedit
The legend of Meicuchuca and the snake tells the story of the zipa who already had many wives. Polygamy was common practice with the Muisca and the higher the rank, the more wives could be held. The highest position of zipa could allow to have and sustain 300 wives, while the lower rank cacique "only" made 100 wives possible.[1]
Meicuchuca allegedly fell in love with a woman outside of the Muisca community. He only had eye for her and spent day and night with the beautiful stranger, forgetting all his other wives.
His primary wife (Chibcha: gui chyty)[2] became very jealous and sought the help of a Muisca priest; chyquy.[3] He recommended her to fast and not bathe herself for twelve days. The first wife did what the priest had told her but the lack of food brought her close to death. The priest offered golden figures to the gods and ordered the wife to take a bath, put on new clothes and head to the bed of her husband. She was surprised to find Meicuchuca sleeping in the bed and next to him an enormous snake.
The primary wife returned to the priest and told him what happened. The priest ordered the wife next day to take a bath in the Bogotá River close to the Tequendama Falls with the lover of Meicuchuca and other women of Bacatá. The women went bathing in the river and suddenly the lover of Meicuchuca transformed in a snake again and disappeared in the water. Meicuchuca, terrified by the snake transformation, found the love for his wives again.[4][5]
^(in Spanish) Meicuchuca and the snake 2016-04-03 at the Wayback Machine
^(in Spanish) Meicuchuca, the lover of the snake - Pueblos Originarios
January 01, 1970
meicuchuca, died, 1470, first, ruler, zipa, bacatá, around, 1450, zaque, counterpart, ruling, over, northern, area, muisca, territory, hunzahúa, zipa, bacatáportrait, andrés, camilo, bohórquez, roazipa, bacatáreignc, 1450, 1470predecessormenquetásuccessorsagua. Meicuchuca died 1470 was the first ruler zipa of Bacata as of around 1450 His zaque counterpart ruling over the northern area of the Muisca territory was Hunzahua MeicuchucaZipa of Bacataportrait of Meicuchuca by Andres Camilo Bohorquez RoaZipa of BacataReignc 1450 1470PredecessorMenquetaSuccessorSaguamanchicaNephewSaguamanchicaBornunknownBacata Muisca ConfederationDiedc 1470Bacata Muisca ConfederationHouseBacataReligionMuisca religion Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Meicuchuca and the snake 1 2 Meicuchuca in Muisca history 2 See also 3 ReferencesBiography editLittle is known about Meicuchuca and many stories about his reign are more mythical than historical He ruled the southern Muisca territory from around 1450 to 1470 and was succeeded according to Muisca heritage laws by his nephew Saguamanchica Meicuchuca and the snake edit The legend of Meicuchuca and the snake tells the story of the zipa who already had many wives Polygamy was common practice with the Muisca and the higher the rank the more wives could be held The highest position of zipa could allow to have and sustain 300 wives while the lower rank cacique only made 100 wives possible 1 Meicuchuca allegedly fell in love with a woman outside of the Muisca community He only had eye for her and spent day and night with the beautiful stranger forgetting all his other wives His primary wife Chibcha gui chyty 2 became very jealous and sought the help of a Muisca priest chyquy 3 He recommended her to fast and not bathe herself for twelve days The first wife did what the priest had told her but the lack of food brought her close to death The priest offered golden figures to the gods and ordered the wife to take a bath put on new clothes and head to the bed of her husband She was surprised to find Meicuchuca sleeping in the bed and next to him an enormous snake The primary wife returned to the priest and told him what happened The priest ordered the wife next day to take a bath in the Bogota River close to the Tequendama Falls with the lover of Meicuchuca and other women of Bacata The women went bathing in the river and suddenly the lover of Meicuchuca transformed in a snake again and disappeared in the water Meicuchuca terrified by the snake transformation found the love for his wives again 4 5 Meicuchuca in Muisca history edit History of the Muisca nbsp Altiplano nbsp Muisca nbsp Art nbsp Architecture nbsp Astronomy nbsp Cuisine nbsp El Dorado nbsp Subsistence nbsp Women nbsp ConquestSee also edit nbsp Colombia portal Muisca rulers history of BogotaReferences edit in Spanish Polygamy in Muisca culture Archived 2015 09 23 at the Wayback Machine Banco de la Republica in Spanish Muisca dictionary chyty in Spanish Muisca dictionary chyquy in Spanish Meicuchuca and the snake Archived 2016 04 03 at the Wayback Machine in Spanish Meicuchuca the lover of the snake Pueblos Originarios Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Meicuchuca amp oldid 1218304219, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
