In the early 16th century, when Spanish conquistadors arrived in South America, the Incas mistakenly believed they were messengers of the god Viracocha. The statue of Viracocha once stood in the sacred hall of the Coricancha temple, and accounts describe this god's appearance as strikingly similar to that of the apostle Bartholomew, as depicted by Western painters. He was slender, bearded, had fair skin, wore flowing robes, and sandals. The Incas firmly believed that Viracocha was white, aligning with their understanding of the deity at the time. The resemblance of Viracocha to the Spanish conquistadors provided the latter with a strategic and psychological advantage, ultimately leading to their victory over the numerically superior Inca army.
Who was the original model for Viracocha? Why did the Incas perceive him as a white man?
