Potosi - Teo, god of the dark

Teo, the god of the dark and mining
Originally uploaded by Lizzie Roe.

The Inca`s always used to believe in good and dark spirits, then came the Conquisitadors, who insisted that they only worship the god of the light as Jesus. So they carried on building shrines to the dark, fertility, earth spirits in the mines out of the light.

Even today, twice a week, they perform a ceremony sprinkling alcohol and coca leaves, leaving a cigarette burning in Teo`s mouth.