In
pre-Columbian societies, women played a central role in shaping the understanding of the world, structuring family and community, participating in religious life, working in the fields, and contributing to
mythology,
arts, and all aspects of societal organization. Women were seen as the foundation of cultural continuity, with their
fertility closely linked to the abundance of Muisca
agriculture. They were trained in tasks such as sowing and harvesting,
food preparation,
textile work,
ceramics, and participation in sacred ceremonies. The Code established a system of harsh penalties intended to maintain social stability, particularly in cases of adultery, deceit, incest, and rape. Female infidelity was punished by forcing the woman to engage with the ten least desirable men of the tribe The wives of community leaders wore skirts that reached their ankles, while common women wore skirts that extended to their knees. Maids, sometimes referred to as concubines, were called
tegui. The majority of pre-Columbian cultures that once had female leaders and egalitarian conditions between men and women eventually shifted toward male-dominated leadership, largely due to the need to defend their territories.
Matrilineal heritage of rule Muisca women played a crucial role in the organization of the family and in supporting the
Muisca rulers. Children belonged to their mothers, and in matters of inheritance, property was assigned to the mother rather than the father. The new
zipa and
zaque were traditionally chosen from the eldest sons of the elder sister of the previous ruler, and women had the freedom to live together for a period to ensure that the relationship was successful and that they were fertile. Exceptions to the tradition of matrilineal heritage in the rule were evident in the later stages of Muisca civilization. Around the time of the arrival of the
Spanish conquistadores,
Tisquesusa was succeeded by his brother,
Sagipa.
Women's roles in the Muisca society Muisca women were considered vital for transferring their fertility to the farmlands, which meant they were responsible for sowing the fields, while men engaged in hunting, fishing, and warfare with neighboring groups such as the
Panche. Women also prepared and sold the Muisca alcoholic beverage,
chicha. To aid in the fermentation process, they chewed on maize kernels. During rituals, which could last up to fifteen days, women
sang. Women also played an important role in the extraction of
salt. The Muisca, known as "The Salt People" due to their salt mines in
Zipaquirá,
Nemocón, and
Tausa, extracted salt by evaporating brine in large pots. They used the salt in their cuisine, for the preparation of dried fish and meat, and as a product in their
economy.
Polygamy, polyamory and sexual rites Like many other pre-Columbian cultures, the Muisca practiced polygamy. Accounts of the number of wives vary, but it was common for high-caste
caciques to have up to twenty wives (
gueta). Some sources even report that certain rulers had as many as one hundred spouses. Less reliable accounts, such as those by Vicente Restrepo in the 19th century, suggest numbers as high as 300 wives. Having multiple wives enabled the most prominent Muisca rulers to cultivate larger farmlands than those of lower castes. == Religion and mythology ==