SHE TRIPPIN'

El Tio - Las Minas del Cerro Rico, Potosí, Bolivia

In the mines of highland Bolivia, “El Tío” is the familiar name for the spirit owner of the mountain, who is also known as Huari or Supay. The words “El Tío” are Spanish for “the uncle” and evince the relationship of patronage that the miners have with the spirit. He is associated with pre-Hispanic huacas as well as the Christian Devil and is a central figure in the ritual life of Bolivian mining communities. An icon of the Tío is situated in each mineshaft to receive sacrificial offerings of alcohol, coca, cigarettes, llama blood and other ritual items from the miners in return for his goodwill and his guarantee of good health and good fortune in the mines.

(source)

Reblogged from unbolivable.

This is the Tio Jorge that Thomas and I talk about in our …erm… Podcast about going into Potosi mines.

He’s Tio Jorge cause the Quechua people working the mines dont have a letter D in their alphabet. So when the Spanish introduced the Dios, he was called Tios…. Which is the Spanish plural for Uncle. Ergo, Tio Jorge. Sit on that Linguistics nerds!

(Source: grrlpower)