Page:The Incas of Peru.djvu/149

Rh The name of the moon as a deity was Pacsa Mama; as giving light by night, Quilla; and there were names for its different phases.

Illapa was the name for thunder, lightning and thunderbolts, the servants of the sun. Chuqui Yllayllapa, Chuqui Illa Inti, Illapa were names for the thunder god. Liviac was the lightning.

The stars were observed and many were named. Valera gives the names of five planets; and fifteen other names are given by Acosta, Balboa, Morua, and Calancha. An attempt to make out the twelve signs of the zodiac from these names of stars is unsupported by evidence that can be accepted. The only observations of celestial bodies for which there is conclusive testimony are those of the sun, for fixing the time of solstices and equinoxes.

The year was called Huata, the word Huatana being a halter, from Huatani, I seize; 'the place where the sun is tied up or encircled,' hence Huata means a year. The Peruvian year was divided into twelve Quilla, or moons, of thirty days. Five days were added at the end, called Allcacanquis. The rule for adding a day every fourth year kept the calendar correct. The monthly moon revolutions were finished in 354 days, 8 hours, 48 minutes. This was made to correspond with the solar year by adding eleven days, which were divided among the months. They regulated