Mayu

Mayu means river. In Rosaspata, a community in the region of Cusco, the design is said to be inspired by the path of the river in the area, which the indigenous people venerate. The river is associated with abundance, life, and soul cleansing (Proyecto Corredor Puno-Cusco 2005).

Silverman (2008), in her study of Q’ero textiles (a traditional Andean community in Cusco that has retained more of the traditional weaving practices than other areas), argues that the design in that community has both spatial and temporal connotations, signifying the Milky Way and the solstices (December and June) (Silverman 2008).

References Cited

Proyecto Corredor Puno-Cusco (2005). Rescate e Interpretación de la Iconografía Textil de las Comunidades de Ccachin, Ccollana, Choquecancha, Quishuarani, y Rosaspata. Calca, Peru: FIDA, Fondo Internacional de Desarrollo Agrícola.

Silverman, Gail P. (2008). A Woven Book of Knowledge: Textile Iconography of Cuzco, Peru. Michigan: Sheridan Books.