Almost Like the Amazons

Abstract

The duality concept was central to ancient Andean gender structures. However, testimonies show that these structures included more than two categories, several of which are of a male body engaged in feminine performance. This article suggests another angle from which to explore this gender complexity. Through analysis of visual culture, together with lexical, archaeological, and ethnohistoric sources, I uncover an Andean gender category of the masculine woman warrior. Textual accounts describe this category as involving a female body that is engaged with performance and qualities that were considered masculine. In artistic expressions, the category is also portrayed as a female body with masculine attributes, such as hairstyle and jewelry used typically by men. Another characteristic of the masculine woman category is limited reproductive potential. This study focuses on three masculine woman warriors: Mama Huaco and Chañan Cori Coca from the Inca tradition, documented in colonial texts and artworks, and a Wari masculine woman, woven and painted on textiles and ceramics. My research reveals that some masculine woman warriors were mythologized and worshipped for their prowess in defending their territories, while others may have been mythologized as military leaders.