The Incas did not have any form of writing, therefore stories and legends were passed down from generation to generationby word of mouth. Soon after the conquest, the Spanish began to record [G 11 / Inca] history. Chroniclers were trained to write down all they knew about the Incas, including their history, customs and legends. Gradually, Incan history was pieced together from the existing oral history. The chronicles vary tremendously in detail, making it difficult for modern historians to write an accurate account of the Incas. For this reason, fact and legend are often intertwined.
[L3 401 / The legend of the foundation of the Incas] is based on a story which no doubt strengthened the position of the Inca emperor in the eyes of his subjects. Another version of the legend was from Garcilaso who wrote that Manco Capac and his sister were created by the sun on an island in Lake Titicaca. They were peaceful leaders rather than conquerors, teaching their people and taking them to Cuzco.
Inca battles often became legendary. In 1438, the Incas were attacked by the Chanca tribe. Patchacuti Inca Yupanqui decided to continue the fight against the Chanca when his father and elder brother had already fled in terror. According to legend, as the Inca fought for his life, suddenly the boulders on the battlefield turned into warriors who assisted the Inca in defeating the Chanca.
Inca legends sometimes show respect for compassion and tenderness. An example is the story of [L3 402 / the boy who wept tears of blood].
