Andean Condors in Relationship to Place and Others in a Cycle of Transformation

The dynamic nature of the condor challenges our assumptions and understandings about the Andes. This is because the meaning of the condor varies by time and place, and because the condor is so much more than an isolated thing or being. The condor above all represents relationship with other beings, places, and qualities in a cycle of transformations. To break apart the condor from relationship is to destroy its integrity and remove it from the sacred, to be manipulated for political purposes and economic benefit with no associated responsibilities. This paper will discuss condor history and meanings as a condensed symbol, a central point that connects with the main aspects of Andean cultures, even as these meanings change. The focus is on Peru, but evidence from other countries will also be considered in the discussion, which is based on contemporary anthropological research as well as historical and archeological data.