In the religion and mythology of Peru

Peru

Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....

, Ecuador

Ecuador

Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...

, and Bolivia

Bolivia

Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...

, apus are the spirit

Spirit

The English word spirit has many differing meanings and connotations, most of them relating to a non-corporeal substance contrasted with the material body.The spirit of a living thing usually refers to or explains its consciousness.The notions of a person's "spirit" and "soul" often also overlap,...

s of the mountains that protect the local people in the highlands. The term dates back to the Inca Empire

Inca Empire

The Inca Empire, or Inka Empire , was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The administrative, political and military center of the empire was located in Cusco in modern-day Peru. The Inca civilization arose from the highlands of Peru sometime in the early 13th century...

.

Meanings of Apu

The word "apu" has several possible meanings, depending on context:

• A god
  God
  God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
  
   or supreme being. The spirit of the sacred mountain; the most powerful of all nature spirits.
• The sacred mountain that is home of the ancestors.
• A chief, boss, or figure of authority. One of four officials in charge of one of the four suyus of the empire. The four apukuna formed an imperial council for the Inca, and resided at court much of the time. The term has historically been used as an honorific, such as with Apu Qun Tiqsi Wiraqutra, and Atahualpa Apu-Inca.
• (As an adjective) Mighty; powerful; rich; wealthy; supreme.
• A light being that exists within special mountains. These spirits live in both the middle and upper worlds, and can intercede for humanity.

Apus of Cusco

The twelve sacred apus of Cusco

Cusco

Cusco , often spelled Cuzco , is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cusco Region as well as the Cuzco Province. In 2007, the city had a population of 358,935 which was triple the figure of 20 years ago...

 are: Ausangate

Ausangate

Ausangate is a mountain of the Cordillera Vilcanota range in the Andes of Peru. With an altitude of 6,384 metres it is situated around 100 kilometres southeast of Cusco.The mountain has significance in Incan mythology...

, Salkantay, Mama Simona, Pikol, Manuel Pinta, Wanakauri, Pachatusan, Pijchu, Saqsaywaman, Wiraqochan, Pukin, and Senq’a.

Other Apus are: Akamari, Illampu

Illampu

Illampú is the fourth highest mountain in Bolivia. It is located in the northern section of the Cordillera Real, part of the Andes, east of Lake Titicaca. It lies just north of the slightly higher Ancohuma, near the town of Sorata...

, Lady of Illimani, Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is a pre-Columbian 15th-century Inca site located above sea level. It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, which is northwest of Cusco and through which the Urubamba River flows. Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for...

, Pitusiray

Pitusiray

Pitusiray is a mountain in Calca Province in the Cuzco Region of Peru. Its peak rises 5,800 metres above sea level....

, Putucusi

Putucusi

Putucusi, Quechua for “Happy Mountain”, is a round-shaped mountain located on the opposite side of the Urubamba River to Machu Picchu in the Cusco department of Peru...

, Tunupa, Wakac Willka, Wayna Picchu, and Yanantin.

Sources

• Sacred Mountain Expedition: April 2007
• Glossary of Terminology of the Shamanic & Ceremonial Traditions of the Inca Medicine Lineage as Practiced in the United States, A
• http://www.historyofcivilizations.com/inca-gods.html