……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. A General Overview of the Sun Cult
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The sun cult originated from the legend that the world was original dark with just the moon. With the birth of Inti, the sun god, humans were brought into the world. Lore says Inti is the father of Sapa Incas. It is said he settled in Cuzco and sent his son into the world from there. The sun being a vital part of life for crops and the like meant that if Inti was unhappy, the people would die. So the Amerindians worshiped the sun to bring prosperity to their lives and to their Sapa Inca. This relation is how the Sapa Inca became associated with being the incarnation of the sun.
They worshiped the sun by giving offerings. They thought the huacas needed sustenance as well, so they gave food and drink. Many used idols of some sort to represent their huaca, usually made of gold. The huacas were treated with respect and reverence.
The offerings were given to Inti through ceremonies. The ceremonies usually followed particular rules of offering food and burning it to “feed” the huaca. When the offerings were a valuable item, such as gold or an idol, they were commonly buried in the sacred place. Worship also took place through festivals that honored Inti. These festivals contained dancing, sacrifice, and offerings.
Map of Cuzco as printed in “Monuments of the Incas”, pg 39, by John Hemming and Edward Ranney.