Hernán Pérez de Quesada's Tunjo

Origin
Hernán Pérez de Quesada was was a Spanish conquistador who was part of the first European expedition towards the inner highlands of the Colombian Andes. The harsh journey, taking almost a year and many deaths, led through the departments Magdalena, Cesar, Santander, Boyacá, Cundinamarca and Huila of present-day Colombia between 1536 and 1539.

In 1536, his elder brother Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada organized two groups of conquistadors, inspired by stories of the City of Gold, El Dorado. Hernán was second-in-command of his brother's army.

In 1537, Jiménez entered the city of Sogamoso, Colombia after hearing of its sun temple. Curious to see its treasures, he sent two of his soldiers inside. When they entered the temple they found rich ornaments and mummies of ancient nobles. While collecting the treasures, the torches they carried accidentally set the temple alight and inevitably destroyed it. After the temple's destruction, Hernán believed there was an even bigger place where the indigenous people hid their gold, called "La Casa del Sol".

In 1544, Hernán embarked on a ship back to Spain which was struck by lightning, killing him and his brother.

This tunjo, an anthropomorphic religious figure in Muisca culture, was among the treasure taken from the Sogamoso temple and given to Hernán.

Effects
When in the presence of those with an adventurous spirit, the figurine's eyes will glow bright gold as it rapidly forms a localized lightning storm in the sky directly above, striking anything in the vicinity.

Collection
TBA