Chakana

The Andean Cross ( Quechua: chakana tawa ) is a common in the highlands of Bolivia and Peru symbol that dates back to the Incas. The four directions symbolize the four directions of the Inca Empire, the hole in the center of the navel of the world - Qusqu ( Cusco ), the capital of the Incas. The gradation between the beams are ( Hanaq Pacha ) for the tripartite division of the world into the underworld ( Ukhu Pacha ), the human world ( Kay Pacha ) and gods or upper world.

The Andean Cross contains in brief the entire life of the Incas. To symbolize the three stages of life in the three worlds also animal whose representatives. The condor represents the world of the gods at the same time with the justice. The world of men symbolizes the Puma, which stands for strength, and the underworld embodies the snake and their wisdom.