ZARAMAMA

[Inca] Zaramama or Mamazara is the Peruvian goddess of grain. Her name means "grain mother" and she was occasionally incarnated in her own fields in the form of strangely shaped ears of corn or ears that joined in multiple growths. Sometimes these goddess images were made even more like Zaramama by being dressed as human women in a robe and shawl with a silver clasp. Sometimes, Zaramama came to earth in cornstalks which were hung by her worshippers on willow trees; festive dances were held around the willows, then the cornstalks were burned, assuring a plentiful supply of corn.