Mascaypacha (Mask-e-pay-ka)
by hughpierre
The red fringe is a chaplet made of layers of many-coloured braid. It is the royal crown of the Emperor to all of Tahuantinsuyo.
Mechanics & Inner Workings
Knottery
Criss-crossing knotts are tied behind the tassels and under the cap in a flexible mesh with square pores of certain sizes contouring to the wearing head. The mesh is synced to similar strings tied to red fringes worn by servants closer to the battlefield front.
The Sapa projects his thoughts through his forhead to stimulate the tassels via that intricate net. The fringes tied to the servants, inturn, impart the Sapa's thoughts onto their wearers.
Manufacturing process
Weaving the Cap
This element was designed exclusively for every emperor. The colours chosen for the fringe's cap is varied depending on the social stratum of the wearer. Under a short haircut, the cap can be coloured:- Yellow, in the case of the royal family
- Purple, with the state's founding heros
- Green, as in the ties to the people and ancestors
- Black, for individuals with little title beforehand
Latu
It gets its common name from the latu. The garland of the finest red wool borders around the wear's head.Tassels
The single loose strings that make up the red tassels hang from the fringe fixed to gold tubes.Cap
The rest of the head is decorated with gold threads and a tuft of two or three upright feathers from the sacred bird: mountain caracara.Significance
Imperial Symbol
The Mascaypacha is the state insignia. It is the physical expression of ultimate political power wihin the empire.The red equates with conquest, rulership and blood, where each thread of its red tassel represents a conquered people.
Military Communication
It also serves as a knottery device worn around the bare heads of highly ranks officers to allow for instantaneous communication directly from sapa to distant units. These officers wear similar devices slaved to the Sapa's crown to receive his orders and pass along to the accompanying commanders and generals.
Alternative Name
- Mascaipacha
- Red Fringe
- Tassel Imperial
Item type
Unique Artifact
Current Location
Manufacturer
Related Technologies
Related ethnicities
Owning Organization
Rarity
One master fringe and several slave fringes
Raw materials & Components
- Red Dye
- Golden Thread
- Vicuna Wool
- Caracara Feathers
Great read! It is not only has an interesting look but I also liked the addition of new tassels for each conquest. The communication also makes this object pretty powerful as well.