# Origin of Inca rainbow flag... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 2, 2006, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-inca-rainbow-flag/346720 "2006-03-02T03:40:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-inca-rainbow-flag/346720/1 "2006-03-02T03:40:16Z")
A while ago I went to Peru and noticed the modern day Quechua use the rainbow flag as the flag of the “Inca”. (Midly amusing to anyone who’s been to SF where it has different conitations 🙂 ) Does this have a historical origin is there any documentary evidence of the Inca using a rainbow flag before/during the Spanish conquest ? Or is it actually modern invention ? ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-inca-rainbow-flag/346720/2 "2006-03-02T04:55:18Z")
Check out some information here : [Inca Flag](http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/xi.html) Apparently originally used as a rebellion flag several centuries back. Also, the [Gay Pride Rainbow Flag](http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/qq-rb.html) has six (or eight) stripes, though it is very similar otherwise. [http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/index.html](http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/index.html) - best vexillology website there is (one of the better websites, period). ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-inca-rainbow-flag/346720/3 "2006-03-02T05:20:38Z")
My understanding was that a particular version of the rainbow flag - which you likely saw - is specifically for the city of Cuzco, Peru.