De múmias, huacas e ídolos: a constituição do discurso idolátrico no Peru, século XVI

Abstract

This research work seeks to establish the process of constitution of the idolatrous discourse during the early colonial period, between 1532 and 1590, in the territory of the Viceroyalty of Peru. The research seeks to clarify the different moments through which a way of seeing, representing, and explaining the set of indigenous religious beliefs was configured according to a Western and Christian worldview. Using of historical sources, such as chronicles, reports, doctrines, confessionals, sermons and dictionaries, we sought to analyze how indigenous idolatries were described and the relationships established with Christian dogmas and beliefs. Thus, the idolatrous discourse begins to be constituted on elements that responded to an Aristotelian and Scholastic heritage, within a Hispanic colonial context and near the description and representation of indigenous cultural elements – such as huacas, idols and mummies or mallquis – that would be characterized as idolatrous. Likewise, the celebration of the Third Council of Lima – in 1582-1583 – and the work of the Jesuit José de Acosta, constitute a central element of the evangelization process in the Andes. It is with the analysis of the documents produced on the Council and the work of Acosta that it can be said that the process of constituting the idolatrous discourse is completed, producing an instrumentalized representation of these religious beliefs to serve the evangelization of indigenous people.