Nencatacoa
Added 2024-11-07 17:59:35 +0000 UTCNencatacoa, the Muisca god of festivities, drunkenness, and dance, protector of the mantle makers and artists.
"Another god was called Nencatacoa. He was the god of drunkenness, painters, and mantle weavers. He helped lift the thick timbers for the buildings. He appeared in the form of a bear wearing a mantle, his tail hanging out. He danced and sang with them when they were drunk. They did not make him offerings because it was enough for him to drink a lot of chicha [fermented alcoholic beverage] with them, and he did not ask for anything else. That was the reason why he was dragged by the sticks, because on that occasion they drink a lot. Others called him Fo, which means fox, because he sometimes appeared in the form of this animal." - Pedro Simón, Noticias historiales de las conquistas de Tierra Firme en las Indias occidentales, Book 4, Chapter 4, 1626
The Muisca are an Indigenous people of Colombia. Their civilization flourished in the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, which includes present-day Bogotá and the surrounding region.
The Muisca were known for their exquisite crafts such as metalwork. Nencatacoa, the patron god of weavers and artists, signifies the importance of craftsmanship in Muisca culture. Muisca weavers produced fine cotton textiles, while artists added intricate designs using a wide range of techniques.
Nencatacoa was also associated with intoxication and dancing. Chica, an alcoholic drink made from fermented maize, was an essential part of the daily and religious lives of the Muisca. When the heavy labors—such as construction and agriculture—were done, they celebrated with music, dance, and alcohol. During these events, they always invoked Nencatacoa. When they were dancing around the bonfire, if the wind blew, it was considered a sign that Nencatacoa was joining them.
"Their clothes, both men and women, are mantles of white and black and various colors that wrap around the body, covering from the chest to the feet (…) Some chieftains wear cotton bonnets (…) They [chieftains and captains] can pierce their ears and noses to wear gold ornaments, which is a great prestige for them. They also wear gold plates on their chests. And they wear gold caps that resemble mitres. They also wear gold on their arms." - Anonymous, Epítome de la Conquista del nuevo Reino de Granada, 1539
There are no pre-Columbian images of Nencatacoa that survive to this day. Even colonial sources tell little about his appearance, other than that he is a bear or fox wearing a mantle. However, given that the mantle was the standard garment of the Muisca men, it doesn’t reveal anything about Nencatacoa’s specific attire. So I had to draw him in a typical outfit of Muisca lords.
There are surviving Muisca mantles, most of which are kept at the Museo del Oro in Bogotá, Colombia. The background is also inspired by another mantle fragment from the Museo del Oro. Muisca mantles were made in a variety of lengths and sizes to show their social status. Some examples are particularly large, reaching almost 1.9 meters in length and width. I chose the ankle length.
The diadem, ear pendants, and pectoral are based on Muisca ornaments from Museo del Oro. The white cotton cap and necklace are drawn after a ceramic figurine from the Museo del Oro. The rest of the ornaments are based on various tunjo (golden votive figures). The feather fan was inspired by the miniature golden staff displayed at the Dallas Museum of Art. Finally, the pottery bowl is based on a piece from a private collection.
Sources
Anthropomorphous clay figure, Muisca, Museo del Oro, Bogotá
Double eagle pendant, Muisca, Museo del Oro, Bogotá
Ear pendants with danglers, Muisca, Museo del Oro, Bogotá
Miniature staff, Muisca, Dallas Museum of Art
Muisca textile, T.M.17, Museo del Oro, Bogotá
Muisca textile, T.M.18, Museo del Oro, Bogotá
Muisca textile, T.M.19, Museo del Oro, Bogotá
Section of a diadem, Muisca, Museo del Oro, Bogotá
Anonymous, Epítome de la Conquista del nuevo Reino de Granada, 1539
Pedro Simón, Noticias historiales de las conquistas de Tierra Firme en las Indias occidentales, Book 4, Chapter 4, 1626
Emilia Cortes Moreno, Mantas Muiscas, Boletín Museo del Oro Núm. 27, 1990
Eugenia Villa Posse, Mitos y leyendas de colombia, IADAP, 1993
Ian Heath, Armies of the 16th Century: The armies of the Aztec and Inca Empire, other native peoples of the Americas, and the Conquistadores 1450-1608, 1999
