(A Jorge Delgadillo)
I
The great lake of Titicaca is 1326 square miles and its elevation above sea \u200b\u200blevel is 12,850 feet. Presúmese that water will go into the sea below and the mountains near Iquique.
According to tradition, this lake came the eleventh century Manco Capac, founder of the empire of the Incas, and still on the main island are the ruins of the famous temple dedicated to the Sun, as well as the small island of Coati, a few miles from it, are the temple of the moon.
Titicaca's voice in Aymara means "rock metal" and the word Coati "queen or lady." Both islands
Inca priestesses remained devoted to the cult, which were chosen from among the nobility and forced to take a vow of chastity.
Traditional
is also that St. Thomas preached the Gospel in the villages on the banks of Lake Titicaca, and there are rocks which show traces of the famous natural standing fourteen inches, on which we have written at length on another legend. Titicaca is added as in the apostle died impaled by the Indians and had lived in a cave in Carabuco, the town where, walking time, was found buried a large cross belonging to the disciple of the Savior. A nail of this cross was taken as a relic of Spain, and the other two as well as part of the cross, is kept with great devotion in the Church of Carabuco. Several cases have been followed by the ecclesiastical authority at checking facts.
Many historians state that after the murder of Atahualpa, the Indians threw in the lake's famous gold chain, measuring 350 feet long and half inch thick, built by Huayna Capac to celebrate the birth of their son Huascar. It is said that among other treasures hidden in the Titicaca to get the best of pots is not the conquerors, is a golden brazier which was four lions of silver feet.
II
Copacabana means stone where you see, because from that point you can see the most beautiful panorama of the lagoon. In Copacabana were also Inca temple of the sun, at the door were two large stone lions and two condors. Recently in 1855 he found one of these, although quite battered.
On the ruins of the Temple of the Sun was built by the conquistadores in 1550 a church was demolished in 1638 to build the present sanctuary of universal fame for the wealth possessed.
Natives living Copacabana divided into factions over the appointment of patron saint for the people. Some were supporters of Santo Tomas, San Sebastian and others not a few of the Virgen de la Candelaria. Don Francisco Titu-Yupanqui, a descendant of the Incas, who headed the latter side, till the image is proposed of the patron, and though little skilled in sculpture, carved a bust that turned out so deformed that caused the general mockery. Don Francisco was not discouraged by ill success, and began traveling to Potosi, where he became an apprentice in the workshop of a sculptor. After many ups and downs largely told in the book of Father Alonso Ramos and which in 1641 published in the Augustinian Fray Fernando Lima Valverde, our sculptor finished his work, and overcome the resistance of the shots and Sebastianist sides, which by dint of gallant ceded the field to a lady, was installed after the great feasts of Our Lady of Candelaria Church in Copacabana on February 2, 1553. Both
in the book of Fray Alonso Ramos like the one published in 1560 Fray Rafael Sanz, is infinite recount miracles performed by the Virgin of Copacabana, miracles that surrounded her in a few years of fame and prestige such that across America began to turn the faithful in a procession or pilgrimage to the shrine, whose care is mandated by royal decree of 7 January 1588 to the Augustinians.
In 1640, proceeded to build the present church, whose form is that of a cross, and measures seventy-five yards long. Speaking
image venerated in the sanctuary, said a reporter: "The breast is well coated maguey, compact paste that makes it seem wooden. It has five quarters, and the beauty of the face beautifully. Without glass, his eyes are so beautiful who refuse to look, and they seem to look him straight in one of the most secret heart. "
Unless even the testimony of people still exist and who visited the shrine of Copacabana in the early years of independence, could believe fable the list of valuable jewels locked in that temple. Pointing something lightly.
custody was gold, and with its pedestal was three fourths.
The shrine of the Virgin was supported by four thick columns of solid silver spiral.
The image was wearing a gold crown covered with precious stones, and in girth it also had a circle of twelve golden stars, sun and moon. Weekly
change my diamond earrings that hung from the ears of the image. Virgin had the thirty-six pairs of earrings.
The chest jewelry, rings and cloaks embroidered with one hundred representing almost fantastic values.
In one hand he held a candle to the Virgin Gold, in which end was imitating a ruby \u200b\u200bflame.
The baby that Mary was carrying bore no less luxurious. The crown, a gift from Arequipa town, was of gold and jewels, and a gift stick Viceroy Count of Lemos.
The girdle of the Virgin was, among other precious stones, a ruby \u200b\u200bof two inches in diameter, which was the admiration of travelers.
The effigy, dazzling jewels, resting on a pedestal of silver imitation lily pads. At the foot of the Virgin could be seen recently the sword and the staff of one of the presidents of Bolivia.
We doubt very much that in all Christendom temple existed where, as in the sanctuary of Copacabana, the devotion of the faithful have contributed gifts of jewelry and metals assessed in more than a million dollars.
III
In 1616 presented himself among the pilgrims who visited the shrine of a young English Copacabana of nice figure and that the melancholy of his face was the victim of a great moral suffering.
This was in effect. Alonso Escoto had come to America in search of fortune in the New World to be blind and crazy to most of the English. But his entrepreneurial genius, his honesty and his record for the job, Alonso Escoto looked haunted by misfortune. Farmer, merchant, miner's hand was placed in the shadow of Manzanillo. Was always two portions: portion of hunger and ration of need.
With its latest resources and ran to the pilgrimage to Copacabana, and one afternoon when the church was deserted, knelt before the altar and ran to the Virgin in these words: "Mother, you who read the most secret folds of the soul, you know I'm honest through and through. I ask you to lend me that, for today, you do not need. Celebrate a trading company, and I will pay you swear hundredfold. You'll be the silent partner and I Industrial. Ampárame, Madam, in my misfortune. " And Alonso Escoto
left the church carrying a pair of earrings and two silver candlesticks.
Without delay Escoto undertook the trip to Arequipa, sold the jewelry for two thousand dollars and five hundred chandeliers. Traveling
one of the valleys of this territory she met the owner of a farm winery, who invited him to visit his farm. Accepted Escoto, and touring one of the wineries said to the farmer: "Look
your grace in this deposit a missing fortune. The liquor of these five hundred tanks was the harvest in the year I blew up the Huayna Putina. The damn volcano almost ruined me, because the wine has been twisted so that neither of vinegar to sell. Alonso Escoto
fluid proved a vat, and said
"Well, if we agree on the price, mine is vinegar, which I shall see how to take the tanks to shore and sold at retail. Concluded the contract, paid Escoto thousand dollars to good account, hired mules, put on them a hundred tanks, leaving the remaining deposited in the hold of the seller, and embarked on his trip to Lima.
Reaching the City of Kings opened up a vat, and he found that the vinegar had become high quality liqueur wine, winemakers phenomenon can be explained by climatic influences. Furthermore, the opportunity was very conducive to our dealer, because the sinking of some ships which left Cadiz with a cargo of wine, had influenced the higher price of this exceptional item consumption. They say that time there were many writers in the arroba of wine was worth in Lima five hundred dollars.
Escoto did diligently to bring the tanks to stop deposited, and at least one year found in possession of a fortune very round. It was decided to liquidate the company with the Virgin of Copacabana.
On February 2, 1615 was celebrated at the shrine of Copacabana with great pomp the festival of Candlemas, and before the altar of the Virgin saw a huge silver candelabra with three hundred sixty-five lights, equal to the number days a year.
This was the part of the Virgin in the trading company with Alonso Escoto, who also made other gifts to the shrine.
weighed the silver candlestick twenty-six arrobas!
IV
In 1826, General Sucre, prompted by special circumstances and that I propose to consider, provided that melted and sealed currency became nearly all the gold and silver in the sanctuary. So the famous chandelier disappeared Alonso Escoto.
Many jewels were purchased by the owner of a famous mine in Puno, which took in water shortly after.
is said that the Virgin had a magnificent pearl necklace, which was bought by an English general, then serving in Bolivia, in the sum of eight thousand pesos. The general gave his girlfriend, who was adorned with him one night to attend a dance. From The following day he began to suffer a throat illness that eventually led her to the grave.
Until 1826 the sanctuary was entrusted to the Augustinians, and since then it looks a priest chaplain.
Little, very little is still left for the Virgin of Copacabana from its former wealth, and as we say their religion has declined greatly.
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