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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