Long ago, the world was in chaos. People lived in caves, wore leaves for clothing, hunted wild animals, and had no knowledge of laws or farming. Seeing this, the Sun God, Inti, felt compassion for humanity. He decided to send his two children, Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo, to Earth to bring light, knowledge, and civilization to humankind. Before they departed, Inti gave them a golden staff and instructed them:
"Travel north. Wherever this staff sinks easily into the fertile soil with a single press, stop there. That place will be the center of your kingdom and the temple where you honor me."
Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo emerged from the deep blue waters of Lake Titicaca, the highest lake in the world, and began their journey across the rugged Andes mountains. Everywhere they went, they tried to plant the golden staff into the ground, but the soil was either too hard or too dry, and the staff would not budge. Finally, they reached the Cusco Valley. At the Huanacauri Hill, Manco Cápac placed the staff into the earth, and it miraculously sank completely into the ground. They knew they had found the center of the world, the sacred spot chosen by Inti.
Once they settled, the two divine siblings began their mission to educate and guide the people. Manco Cápac taught the men how to plow fields, sow corn, build irrigation systems, and construct homes. He established laws, political structures, and religious practices, teaching the people to worship the Sun God. Mama Ocllo taught the women how to weave fabric from alpaca wool, sew, cook, and care for their families. She passed down rituals emphasizing humility, respect, and compassion.
Under their guidance, the Cusco Valley flourished into a prosperous land. People from surrounding areas came to admire the wisdom and power of Inti’s children. Manco Cápac became the first Sapa Inca (emperor) and Mama Ocllo became the first Coya (empress). Together, they built a magnificent Temple of the Sun and laid the foundations for a powerful Inca Empire that would thrive for centuries along the spine of the Andes.
The story carries deep cultural symbolism. The divine origin of the Inca, calling themselves Intip Churin, or Children of the Sun, affirmed the royal family’s absolute authority. The paired leadership of Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo symbolizes Yanantin, the balance between male and female, work and home, governance and family. Even today, Lake Titicaca remains sacred, regarded as the "womb" from which one of the world’s greatest civilizations was born.