Muisca chieftainships were political units that covered a large territory: they were organised around a central figure, the chieftain, and his retinue of captains, priests and criers.

Each of these figures played a special role in Muisca society, thus keeping the group together. The big chieftains - who headed confederations of many peoples - and the priests were the most important men in the communities. Direct descendants of the gods and fathers of the community, they were initiated in supernatural matters from a very early age, and this meant they acquired great powers, which they obtained through arduous initiation rituals where they were confined in small churches called cucas and were not allowed any kind of contact with the outside world for years on end, apart from visits by old shamans who introduced them into these sacred arts. Their teachings benefited the community and made them powerful men, capable of providing their people with food in times of crisis, of making them safe from their enemies, and of meeting whatever other needs might arise.

The vastness of the territory nevertheless meant that there had to be local priests and agents under these leading dignitaries, together with a sort of 'messenger service' that was provided by criers, who had the job of watching over local groups and reminding people of their lords' power.

The captains and priests of each captaincy, whose positions depended, as did those of the great lords, on their having a certain lineage, were local chiefs. They often received some sort of religious initiation as well, although this, of course, had to be approved by the higher-ranking chieftains and priests.

The criers, meanwhile, were the chieftains' messengers, men a particular chieftain gave part of his paraphernalia to - things like ear rings, blankets and diadems - so that they could demonstrate the chieftain's power in places where his presence was needed but he was unable to go to.

It was thus the chieftains, captains, local priests and criers who kept Muisca peoples and territory united.

Muisca and the Gold Museum Exhibition

Chieftains, Priests, Captains and Criers

Religious Life and Offerings

Eldorado Raft

The Three Goldwork Styles