In the Andes, a region of striking topographic diversity, mountain peaks have long held profound sacred significance, and many of them remain revered to this day. In Andean cosmology, the Inca religion used the term apu to describe a mountain believed to house a living spirit.
To the best of our knowledge, there are three apus in the Manu National Park, where we believe—and have demonstrated—that Paititi may be located: Apu Kañahuay, Apu Pitama, and Apu Catinti. These peaks could hold immense importance, both spiritually and practically, serving as guides for navigating the landscape.
The spiritual and navigational significance of apus is deeply rooted in Andean folklore and traditions. In the context of Paititi, this is reflected in the following passages from Urbano (1993: 294–295), as cited by Tyuleneva (2022):
“To see Paititi from afar, they say, you need to go towards Akhanaku after Paucartambo. From there, you can see a tall hill/mountain called Apu Kanihuay. To climb this hill and catch sight of Paititi, you must make a proper offering [despacho]. If you don’t perform the offering correctly, you won’t see Paititi, nor will you be able to climb the Apu, as rain, lightning, wind, and hail will begin before you reach the summit. The Apu always repels those who consider themselves brave, and especially foreigners. Even if you manage to reach the summit of Apu Kanihuay without obstacles, it will shroud everything in dense clouds, preventing you from seeing the horizon. You could spend days and nights on the Apu or near it, and it will reveal nothing to you. That’s why it’s crucial to make an offering.”
“The Incas are immortal. They live in Paititi. You can see it from Kanihuay hill. It’s a very tall hill, and from there, you can see the Paititi jungle.“
Now, let’s take a look at how this information appears on our map.
Exploring the mutual visibility of these sacred peaks may offer deeper insights into their role in guiding ancient travelers and influencing cultural practices. Let’s examine how the apus in the Manu National Park are interconnected through visibility.
As shown in the screenshots above, all three apu are mutually visible, and the potential location of Paititi, along with its surroundings, lies on the horizon’s edge when observed from Apu Kañahuay. While this doesn’t allow us to draw any definitive conclusions, it does provide an additional puzzle piece that fits into our broader picture.
References
- Tyuleneva, V. (2022). Сюжет о Пайтити: Современные и колониальные версии [Folklore about Paititi: Modern and Colonial Versions]. In Антропология. Фольклористика. Лингвистика (Vol. 2, pp. 285–304). Издательство Европейского университета. https://eusp.org/sites/default/files/archive/et_dep/sborniki/afl2/285_304.pdf
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Urbano, H. (1993). Las tres edades del mundo; La idea de utopía y de historia en los Andes [The three ages of the world; The idea of utopia and history in the Andes]. In H. Urbano, Mito y simbolismo en los Andes: La figura y la palabra (pp. 283–304). Centro de Estudios Regionales Andinos ‘Bartolomé de las Casas’. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000097703