When visiting Cusco or reading about the Inca Empire, people often notice a bold rainbow colored flag waving in plazas, markets, and historical areas of the city. Some people think it is the legitimate flag of the Inca Empire and some question if it is the symbol of the LGBTQ+ Pride movement. Because of this, one of the most common questions asked is whether the Inca Empire had an original flag and what the famous rainbow color and patterned flag means. Many visitors also type queries like what does the symbol in the peru flag mean or real inca flag when they start comparing modern symbols with ancient traditions in peru.
For many visitors, this is their first deep contact with the complex visual language of peru beyond the national flag and the rainbow banner they see everywhere in Cusco.
