History of a Myth

Booknews

In 1572, the Spanish chronicler Sarmiento de Gamboa completed one of the earliest official versions of the history of the Inka empire. In his account, the ancestors of the Inkas originated from a cave at a place to the south of the imperial city of Cuzco called Pacariqtambo. Urton (anthropology, Colgate U.) examines the social-historical context of the construction of the Pacariqtambo origin myth during the years between the entry of the Spanish into Peru, in 1532, and the writing of Sarmiento's history. Paper edition (73057-8), $8.95. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)