Peruvian House Charm: "Toritos de Pucara"

Peruvian House Charm: "Toritos de Pucara"

Collection: Everyday Connections

Object Category: Charms and Talismans
Object Type: House Charms

Country: Peru
Continent: South America
Geographic Region: Southern America
Materials: Wool, Clay
width: 7 in; height: 10 in; depth: 6 in

Families living in the Andes mountains of Peru put crosses with bulls on the tops of their roofs to bring good luck and to ward off evil. Sometimes pairs of the colorful bulls are hung above the entrances of houses as a symbol of protection and prosperity

The bulls are made in Pucara, an area near Cusco. The bulls are placed on the tops of the roofs to have a view of the mountains where, the Incas believed, the gods reside.

Cattle did not arrive in Peru until the late 1400s, so this was not a practice of the Incas.

See also: https://pixabay.com/photos/cusco-peru-inca-ornaments-roof-tops-687562/
Source:
https://www.peru.travel/en/masperu/toritos-de-pucara-simbols-protection-prosperity
http://alpaca-suitcase.blogspot.com/2010/12/peruvian-fusion-andean-good-luck-charm.html