| Type: | Muisca |
| Huitaca | |
| Deity Of: | Witchcraft, sexual liberation, arts, dance, music and Moon |
| Member Of: | Muisca religion |
| Other Names: | Xubchasgagua |
| Affiliation: | Chía Bachué Nencatacoa Chaquén |
| Animals: | Owl |
| Greek Equivalent: | Hecate |
| Roman Equivalent: | Morta |
| Slavic Equivalent: | Marzanna |
| Hinduism Equivalent: | Mara |
| Region: | Altiplano Cundiboyacense |
| Ethnic Group: | Muisca |
Huitaca or Xubchasgagua was a rebelling goddess in the religion of the Muisca.[1] The Muisca and their confederation were a civilization who inhabited the Altiplano Cundiboyacense in the Andes. Huitaca has been described by the chroniclers Juan de Castellanos in his Elegías de varones ilustres de Indias,[2] Lucas Fernández de Piedrahita[3] and Pedro Simón.[4]
Huitaca was the goddess of arts, dance and music,[5] [6] witchcraft, sexual liberation and the Moon.[7] According to the Muisca legends Huitaca was a goddess of extreme beauty who praised a life full of joy, games, pleasure and drunkenness who was rebelling against the patriarchal Bochica upon which he turned her into a white owl.[1]
Some chroniclers state Huitaca was another name for Moon goddess Chía[8] [9] or Bachué, mother goddess of the Muisca.[7]
Sculptor Julia Merizalde Price has made a sculpture honouring Huitaca, picturing her after the curse of Bochica.[10]
Photographer Carlos Saavedra has made an exposition showing different indigenous women of Colombia in his search for Huitaca.[11]