Every culture has a need to explain the vastness and power of the cosmos and the natural world around it, and this book reveals the powerful and evocative mythologies of the South American continent. This fully cross-referenced volume details the gods and goddesses, significant events, sacred sites and the rich iconography of the peoples of South America, particularly the powerful Incas and their predecessors. Discover the all powerful Inca sun god, Inti, and the magical shamans of the Amazonian tribes. Learn how the rulers of the sophisticated civilizations of the Andes built their empires and how the Spanish legend of El Dorado brought doom to the Inca civilization. Find out how the animals and the landscape itself play a vital part in the beliefs and traditions of the continent, and how the sun, the moon and the stars are central to the ancient myths. Specially illustrated feature spreads focus on unifying themes such as Sacred Skies, Human Sacrifice and Cannibalism, and Divine Kingship and Ancestor Reverence. This A-to-Z guide is illustrated throughout with superb contemporary paintings and artefacts, and photographs of the ancient sacred sites. For readers of all ages, this is a rich source of information for exploring, and understanding the beliefs and religions of the indigenous inhabitants of South America.