# Book III explained — The Columbiad

> Chapter companion for The Columbiad by Joel Barlow.

## What happens

The Inca Capac faces a massive invasion by mountain savages. His son Rocha is sent to offer peace but is captured. During the battle, an eclipse terrifies the Peruvians, who flee to Cusco. Oella mourns Rocha, but the sun returns, revealing Rocha alive on an altar. The Peruvians rally, defeat the savages, kill Zamor, and recover Rocha, establishing peace.

## Themes in this chapter

### Sacrifice and Suffering

Rocha's capture and near-sacrifice, the death of Zamor, and Oella's grief highlight the costs of war.

### Unity and Harmony

Capac seeks peace through diplomacy and later spares the defeated, aiming to unite tribes under Incan rule.

### Tyranny and Injustice

Zamor's savage leadership and the brutal treatment of captives reflect tyranny and injustice.

## Character check-ins

### Wise Capac

The Inca king who defends his realm, sends Rocha on a peace embassy, leads the army, and shows mercy to the defeated.

### Rocha

The Inca's son, sent to offer peace to the savages, captured, and nearly sacrificed before being rescued.

### Zamor

The savage chief who captures Rocha, leads the attack, and dies in battle, refusing burial.

### Oella

Rocha's mother, who grieves deeply during the eclipse, believing her son is dead.

### Young Capac

The second heir who takes over priestly duties when Rocha leaves for the embassy.

## Key lines

> Now twenty years these children of the skies Beheld their gradual growing empire rise.

For twenty years, the Incas watched their empire slowly expand.

_Describes the steady growth of the Incan Empire under Capac._

> The king, undaunted in defensive war, Repels their hordes and speeds their flight afar.

The king fearlessly defends his land, driving back the invaders.

_Highlights Capac's military prowess._

> I'll go with terms of peace to spread thy sway And teach the blessings of the god of day.

Rocha volunteers to offer peace and spread the worship of the sun god.

_Rocha's mission to negotiate peace._

> The astonisht Inca marks, with wild surprise, Dead chills on earth, no cloud in all the skies, His host o'ershaded in the field of blood, Gored by his foes, deserted by his god.

Capac is shocked by the sudden eclipse, which terrifies his army and makes them feel abandoned by their god.

_The eclipse causes panic among the Peruvians._

> Was it for this, my son to distant lands Must trace the wilds and tempt those lawless bands?

Oella laments that her son had to venture into dangerous wilderness.

_Oella's grief for Rocha during the eclipse._

> Insult me not with tombs! the monster cried, Let closing clods thy coward carcase hide; But these brave bones unburied on the plain Touch not with dust nor dare with rites profane.

Zamor refuses burial, demanding his body be left for scavengers.

_Zamor's defiant final words._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_columbiad_se/chapters/book-iii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_columbiad_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_columbiad_se/chapters