What was the main deity of the Inca religion?

The main deity of the Inca religion was Inti, the sun god and patron of the Inca state.

Inti was associated with warmth, light, agriculture, and the prosperity of the empire. Inca rulers claimed a special relationship with the sun, helping turn Inti’s worship into an important source of political authority. The Inca emperor was regarded as Inti’s representative on Earth.

Inti was not simply a single, uniform image of the sun. Inca tradition recognized different solar aspects connected with the sun’s daily and seasonal movements. The Inca also honored other major sacred beings, including Viracocha, a creator deity, and Pachamama, associated with the earth and fertility. Those figures were important, but Inti held the central state-sponsored role most commonly meant by the Inca Empire’s main deity.

The most important festival dedicated to Inti was Inti Raymi, held around the June solstice. The ceremony emphasized renewal, imperial power, and hopes for successful harvests.