| Huitaca | |
|---|---|
Witchcraft, sexual liberation, arts, dance, music and Moon | |
| Member of Muisca religion | |
.jpg) Huitaca was cursed by Bochica and turned into a white owl | |
| Other names | Xubchasgagua |
| Affiliation | Chía Bachué Nencatacoa Chaquén |
| Animals | Owl |
| Region | Altiplano Cundiboyacense |
| Ethnic group | Muisca |
| Equivalents | |
| Greek equivalent | Hecate |
| Roman equivalent | Morta |
| Slavic equivalent | Marzanna |
| Hinduism equivalent | Mara |
Huitaca or Xubchasgagua was a rebelling goddess in the religion of the Muisca.[1] The Muisca and their confederation were a civilization who inhabited the Altiplano Cundiboyacense in the Andes. Huitaca has been described by the chroniclers Juan de Castellanos in his Elegías de varones ilustres de Indias,[2] Lucas Fernández de Piedrahita[3] and Pedro Simón.[4]
Huitaca was the goddess of arts, dance and music,[5][6] witchcraft, sexual liberation and the Moon.[7] According to the Muisca legends Huitaca was a goddess of extreme beauty who praised a life full of joy, games, pleasure and drunkenness who was rebelling against the patriarchal Bochica upon which he turned her into a white owl.[1]
Some chroniclers state Huitaca was another name for Moon goddess Chía[8][9] or Bachué, mother goddess of the Muisca.[7]
Sculptor Julia Merizalde Price has made a sculpture honouring Huitaca, picturing her after the curse of Bochica.[10]
Photographer Carlos Saavedra has made an exposition showing different indigenous women of Colombia in his search for Huitaca.[11]
