Thursday, November 17, 2016

Day 138 - The Chiriguano


The Chiriguano Statue

The Chiriguano is a frightening statue on the rotunda of the Second Ring and the Avenida Grigota, which passing the Chriguano becomes the Doble Via la Guardia.  To the east of the statue is the crowded Ramada Market.  A little research and I find there is a story behind this statue.

The Indian stands defensively dressed only in the bow and arrows, repelling the attack of the Incan general sent to conquer the Guarani of the West.  Everyone the Inca had encountered they conquered with might or diplomacy.  These were to prove a different story.

They fought ferociously, defending their homeland from the invaders from the mountains.

One of the leaders of the Guarani was captured and brought before the general of the Incas, Grigota, stationed at the fort of Samaipata.  The general asked him to surrender and convince his people to do likewise.  The man refused.

“I chiri huano!” the general cried.  “Leave him tied up.”

The man was left tied up, naked.  The nights in Samaipata can be very cold.  That night was just such a night.  In the morning he was found dead from exposure.  To his people he would forever be a hero.

The Guarani of the West were never conquered by the Inca.  The Inca never made it farther east than Samaipata.  But the Guarani were eventually defeated, not by arms, but by the advance of the smallpox epidemic accidentally brought by the European invaders.

With this story, it is now one of my favorite statues.  I love those who will willingly die for their homelands, like this man.

Translated and adapted from an article on stcrzysustradiciones.blogspot.com.


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