{{Short description|Ruler and high priest of Sugamuxi}} {{Other uses|Iraca (disambiguation)}} [[File:Floresta Boyaca - Panoramica.JPG|thumb|right|250px|View of the sacred '''Iraca Valley''' (Tobasía)]] The '''''iraca''''', sometimes spelled '''''iraka''''',<ref name=Ocampo_p77>Ocampo López, 2013, Ch.12, p.77</ref><ref name=Ocampo_p85>Ocampo López, 2013, Ch.14, p.85</ref> was the ruler and high priest of Sugamuxi in the confederation of the Muisca who inhabited the Altiplano Cundiboyacense; the central highlands of the Colombian Andes. ''Iraca'' can also refer to the '''Iraka Valley''' over which they ruled.<ref name=Ocampo_p77/><ref name=Ocampo_p85/><ref name=Humbweb>{{in lang|es}} [http://www.lablaa.org/blaavirtual/exhibiciones/humboldt/diario/19.htm Life of Alexander von Humboldt - Ciudad de Santa Fe]</ref> Important scholars who wrote about the ''iraca'' were Lucas Fernández de Piedrahita, Alexander von Humboldt and Ezequiel Uricoechea.

== Background == [[File:Templo del sol.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Reconstruction of the '''Sun Temple''' of Sugamuxi, where the ''iraca'' lived]] In the centuries before the Spanish conquistadores entered central Colombia in the 1530s, the valleys of the Eastern Ranges were ruled by four main leaders and several independent ''caciques''. The northern territories were ruled by the ''zaque'' from Hunza, the present-day capital of Boyacá department and the southern area under the reign of the ''zipa'', based in Bacatá, currently known as the Colombian capital Bogotá. Other important rulers were the ''iraca'' and the ''cacique'' Tundama based in Tundama, today known as the city of Duitama.

== Description == thumb|right|250px|'''Sugamuxi''', the last ''iraca'' The ''iraca'' was a ''cacique'' of the sacred City of the Sun Sugamuxi, present-day Sogamoso. His domain was a territory spreading over Sogamoso, Pesca, Iza, Tobasía, Firavitoba, Busbanzá, Toca, Gámeza, Tota, Mongua and areas adjacent to Lake Tota.<ref name=Pueblos>{{in lang|es}} [http://pueblosoriginarios.com/biografias/iraca.html Iraca rulers] - Pueblos Originarios</ref>

The ''iraca'' was both a political and a religious leader (priest), in the religion of the Muisca said to have descended from Idacansás and educated by messenger god Bochica. It is thought that the ''iracas'' inherited the knowledge of Bochica from their predecessors.<ref>{{in lang|es}} [https://www.udistrital.edu.co/universidad/colombia/historia/prehispanica/muiscas/sugamuxi/ Sugamuxi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204064828/https://www.udistrital.edu.co/universidad/colombia/historia/prehispanica/muiscas/sugamuxi/ |date=2016-02-04 }} - Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas</ref> The role of ''iraca'' was widely respected in the Muisca territories and also was important for the astronomy of the Muisca.<ref>Langebaek Rueda et al., 2005, p.281</ref> The ''iraca'' was elected by the ''caciques'' of Gámeza, Busbanzá, Pesca and Toca. Generally a ''cacique'' from Tobasía or Firavitoba was elected alternatingly. In cases where the election was indecisive, the ''tundama'' of Tundama would intervene.<ref name=Pueblos/>

The ''iraca'' of Sugamuxi lived in the Sun Temple, the most important temple of the Muisca, built to worship the Muisca Sun god Sué, in Sugamuxi, decorated inside with golden figures; ''tunjos'' and golden plates outside.<ref name=Pueblos/><ref>{{in lang|es}} [http://sogamoso-boyaca.gov.co/informacion_general.shtml Official website Sogamoso] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924103430/http://www.sogamoso-boyaca.gov.co/informacion_general.shtml |date=2015-09-24 }}</ref>

The Sun Temple was destroyed by fire from the torches of soldiers in the army of Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, the conquistador who made first contact with the Muisca in September 1537 in search of El Dorado.<ref name=SunTemple>{{in lang|es}} [http://pueblosoriginarios.com/sur/caribe/muisca/sogamoso.html Temple of the Sun - Sogamoso] - Pueblos Originarios</ref>

== Known iraca == From the ages before the Spanish conquest of the Muisca little is known and much is based on mythology. Confirmed ''iraca'' were: * Nompanim - died early 16th century<ref name=Pueblos/> * Sugamuxi - died 1539<ref name=Pueblos/>

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== See also == {{Portal|Colombia}} * Spanish conquest of the Muisca * Muisca * Muisca Confederation * Muisca rulers, Tundama * Idacansás

== References == {{reflist|30em}}

=== Bibliography === * {{citation |last=Langebaek Rueda |first=Carl Henrik |year=2005 |title=Muiscas: representaciones, cartografías y etnopolíticas de la memoria - The Muisca: representations, cartography and ethnopolitics |publisher=Universidad Javeriana |pages=1–380 |isbn=958-683-643-6 |language=es}} * {{citation |last=Ocampo López |first=Javier |year=2013 |title=Mitos y leyendas indígenas de Colombia - Indigenous myths and legends of Colombia |location=Bogotá, Colombia |publisher=Plaza & Janes Editores Colombia S.A. |isbn=978-958-14-1416-1 |pages=1–219 |language=es}} * {{citation |last=Ocampo López |first=Javier |year=2007 |title=Grandes culturas indígenas de América - Great indigenous cultures of the Americas |location=Bogotá, Colombia |publisher=Plaza & Janes Editores Colombia S.A. |isbn=978-958-14-0368-4 |pages=1–238 |language=es}}

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Category:Muisca mythology and religion Category:Muisca rulers Category:Colombian clergy Category:15th century in Colombia Category:16th-century indigenous people of the Americas Category:People from Sogamoso Category:People from Boyacá Department