This would be a queen of the Inca Empire, which dominated much of the South American Andes between 1438 and 1533 AD (after which they were conquered by the Spanish). Although the Inca are often confused with Mesoamerican civilizations such as the Aztec and Maya, their culture actually evolved from a separate tradition of South American civilization which began with the Norte Chico culture in Peru around 3200 BC. The Inca Empire’s official language, Quechua, is still spoken in numerous South American countries (ranging from Ecuador in the north to Argentina in the south) today.
Although this woman’s crown and necklace are inspired by actual Inca artwork and jewelry, I also drew upon traditions of body paint and skin piercings from various societies of the Amazon Basin for her facial decoration.