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may be regarded a.s a very powerful and evid–
ent sensual influence on the spirit of the native .
The
festival of
the RAIMIS of
the ancient
Empire are in a measure reproduced in the pro–
cession of the Corpus, which is characterized by
the subsequent undisciplined conduct which also
follows the agricultural and idolatrous celebra–
tions. The Corpus, then, one of the most typical
fes
ti
vals of ancient Cuzco, is a mixture of idola–
try and Catholicism. The grandeur of colonial
Cuzco, its opulence, its fabulous wealth, its social
life and most singular customs, are depicted in
this ceremony each year, although yearly mod–
ified by infringing modernity.
In Colonial times Cuzco wa.s considered the
chief center of the Vicer
1
domain · this pre–
eminence i h d enjoye
as the center of Inca
bultu e, during
t
e prec di g tnou and years.
B · decree of the King of Spain Cuzco was
called "the grand, nobl
and most faithful city
of Cuzco, head of the realm and provinoes of
Peru".
It was decreed that the City Government
'Should
ha.vethe first vote and place in the as–
semblies,
f
or
it
was the first city government
e~tablished
by the conquerors. As was customary
\vith Spanish cities,
it
was allowed a coat of
arms. Various seals had Cuzco, practically one
f
or
ench century. In the 16th century its arms, con–
ceded by Charles V, were "a Golden Castle in
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