In the myth of the Inca/Peruvian creator god Viracocha appear a number of important mythological and astrotheological motifs that can be found in many other religions, including Christianity.
For example, Viracocha possesses solar attributes, such as the golden color and the sun crown. Another astrotheological or nature-worshipping motif are the tears of rain falling from his eyes. Viracocha was also noted for being a wandering “guru” and for walking on water. In some traditions, his son was the sun, Inti. Hence, the son of God is the sun of God.
Note that the “rays” around Viracocha’s head are divided into two main groups: Those with spheres on the end, which number 12, and those with creature heads, numbering seven. Individually, these are traditional numbers for rays on the heads of sun gods, here combined.
The 12 generally signifies the number of months in a year, signs in the zodiac, and hours of the day and night. The seven stand for the days in the week, which in turn are the sun, moon and five planets. Around Viracocha’s neck are five, possible representing these five planets, Mars, Mercury, Uranus, Venus and Saturn.
In the story of Viracocha also appears a myth of a Great Flood, destroying all the wicked people and sparing a righteous couple to repopulate the earth.
(And, no, I’m not saying that the English words “sun” and “son” are cognates.)
