Manco Capac
2007
by Eric Whollem
oxides on white clay
Collection of the artist
1.5" x 3"
Photo copyright by the artist.
THE LEGEND OF LAKE TITICACA
MYSTERIES OF THE DOLPHIN PEOPLE
A Peruvian woman once told me that every school child in Peru
knows the story of Manco Capac and Macma Ocllo, the first
Incan king and queen.
They were born of the salty waters of Lake Titicaca. This saline
lake lies high in the Andes mountains. Seahorses live in that lake
today.
DOLPHINS OF THE LAKE
It is said that dolphin spirits manifested in human form in those
waters. Manco Capac and his bride were such dolphins. As
such they could well be said to have been merpeople.
In Central America other lakes have sea animals. Not all the
waters remain salty. But the aquatic species have adapted to
the fresh waters.
The style of this sculpture is pure fantasy and is not derived
directly from the classical art of Peru. I prefer a bit of imagin-
ation in my work. The sculpture was designed so that it could
be incorporated in a necklace. But it stands upright as well.
VIRACOCHA
Various legends surround Manco Capac. One is that he was
the son of Viracocha. But commonly he is regarded to have
been a real personage in Peruvian history. Viracocha means
"foam born."
THE CHUMASH AND THE PELOPIDAE
In the Santa Barbara area of California the Chumash Indians
regard themselves as Dolphin People. The ancient Greeks
also were Dolphin People, calling themselves the Pelopidae,
or People of the Porpoise.
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See more of my CERAMIC SCULPTURES on this link:
'Ceramic Sculpture' a video by Eric Whollem.
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Antrhropology, Peru, mermaids, Indians, Pelopidae, Chumash
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