Chile under the Inka Empire – 2009
Unku: Tünica con tokapu ajedrezado . Fibra de camélido.lnka,Perú.MNAAHP RT-2377 .
Unku: Tünica con tokapu ajedrezado .
Unku: Tünica con tokapu ajedrezado . Fibra de camélido.lnka,Perú.MNAAHP RT-2377 .
Unku: Tünica con tokapu ajedrezado . Fibra de camélido.lnka,Perú.MNAAHP RT-2377 .
Unkus y Tokapu
The unku or andean tunic, made of fine tapestry cloth known as cumbi, was the garment of choice of the inka rulers, inka elite and the military
The Royal Inka tunic was known as the tokapucumbi because it was composed entirely or in part of tokapu—individual squares in different designs, the significance of which have yet to be deciphered. Some high-ranking Inka dignitaries also wore these multi-colored tunics. The red-breasted tunic with checkered design, however, was used by the Inka warriors. Lined up closely side by side, the soldiers attired in these military tunics would have intimidated their enemies in battle with their collective graphic power. For some reason not yet understood, the checkered motif also is found frequently on Inka ceramics and in miniature versions of these tunics found on mountaintop shrines and in the rock art of the Empire’s southern provinces, including Chile.