What was the Inca goddess of the moon called?

The Inca goddess of the moon was Mama Quilla, also spelled Mama Killa. Her name is commonly translated as “Mother Moon,” and she was one of the most important female deities in Inca religion.

Mama Quilla was associated with the lunar cycle, the passage of time, marriage, and women’s menstrual cycles. Because the Inca calendar relied on careful observation of the sky, the Moon had an important practical role as well as a sacred one. Mama Quilla was traditionally regarded as the wife and sister of Inti, the sun god, although Inca myths varied between regions and traditions.

The Incas believed that lunar eclipses occurred when a dangerous animal, such as a puma or serpent, attacked the Moon. People tried to frighten the creature away by shouting, making noise, and throwing weapons toward the sky. Mama Quilla also had a temple in Cusco served by priestesses, and she was represented by a silver disk. Silver was closely associated with the Moon, just as gold was associated with the Sun.