Dominic Sandbrook
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Appearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
Their relations actually are not terrible.
The Spanish are clearly fascinated by Atahualpa.
They write long descriptions of him in their memoirs and chronicles and things.
They're fascinated by his appearance and so on.
So we know that he's probably in his early 30s.
He's a big man.
He's kind of an alpha male.
He had a large face, handsome and fierce.
His eyes reddened with blood.
He spoke with much gravity.
He made many lively arguments.
He was a cheerful man, although unsubtle.
And the unsubtlety is reflected in an entertaining way.
So one of the conquistadors, Cristobal de Meña, records that Atahualpa's favourite possession was
was the severed head of Atok, who was one of his brother's generals.
And I quote, its teeth were closed and held a silver spout.
On top of the head was attached a golden bowl.
Atualpa liked to drink from it when thinking about the war against his brother.
His servants poured the chicha, that's a kind of beer made from maize, into the bowl and it came out through the spout.
Would you drink from the severed head of one of your... Of course you would.