Peru Trip Report, Twenty-Four Hours 7: Saksayhuaman, Tambomachay, Qenqo, Pucapucara, Coricancha

Day 7, December 3, 2014:

We covered Saksayhuaman, Tambomachay, Qenqo, Pucapucara, Korikancha... all magnificent amongst terrific Incan masonry.

8am: In our taxi getting out of San Blas... narrow lanes together with steep gradients...

Saksayhuaman:

This tree at the entrance together with within sheds its layers of bark...It is QEUNA, of the Family: Rosaceae Scientific name: Polylepis incana. Small Tree: Height 4 - 8 meters amongst body of 20-40 cm inwards diameter, amongst small-scale greenish flowers (May - November) together with fruits (November – January). Habitat: 2000 - 5000 meters.

Saksayhuaman ( important ‘Royal Eagle’) fortress-temple complex lies at the northern border of the former Inca capital Cuzco.

Constructed during the reign of Pachacuti (1438-1471 CE) together with his successors, its massive, well-built walls stay today every bit a testimony non only to Inca ability but also the skills of Inca architects together with their approach of blending their monumental structures harmoniously into the natural landscape.

Cuzco was set out to shape a puma shape when seen from higher upwards is correct, so Sacsayhuaman was its head.

The fortress has 3 distinct terraces which recede backwards on each other. The walls, each reaching a tiptop of eighteen metres, are set out inwards a zigzag fashion stretching over 540 metres so that each wall has upwards to xl segments, which allowed the defenders to grab attackers inwards a crossfire; a consequence helped also past times the full general curved shape of the entire fortress facade. Inca architects blended their structures into the surrounding natural landscape together with the outline of the Sacsayhuaman was built to mimic the contours of the mount make which towers behind it. This is especially evident when the Sun creates deep triangular shadows betwixt the zigzag terraces inwards just the same way that it does on the mount make amongst its peaks together with valleys.

Magnificent stonework amongst huge finely-cut polygonal blocks, many over 4 metres inwards tiptop together with weighing over 100 tons.

Huge blocks were quarried together with shaped using naught to a greater extent than than harder stones together with bronze tools. Marks on the stone blocks dot that they were to a greater extent than oft than non pounded into shape rather than cut. Blocks were moved using ropes, logs, poles, levers, together with earthen ramps (telltale marks tin even so endure seen on some blocks), together with some stones even so stimulate got nodes protruding from them or indentations which were used to aid workers suitcase the stone. The fine cutting together with setting of the blocks on site was so precise that mortar was non necessary. Finally, a finished surface was provided using grinding stones together with sand.

The Incas ensured that their blocks interlocked together with the walls were sloped to maximise their resistance to earthquake damage.

Alpacas across the road. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 whistle got their attending together with they galloped inwards hither thru these fences... well, nether them...

There is only 1 small-scale doorway on each terrace which gave access to the interior buildings together with towers on the hillside behind.

On completion, the fortress was said to stimulate got had a capacity for at to the lowest degree 1,000 warriors, but it was rarely needed every bit the Incas did non endure invasions from enemy states. Probably, for this reason,

After the European invasion, most of the stones of the Sacsayhuaman were reused elsewhere inwards the colonial buildings of Cuzco. The ruins were covered inwards basis past times the Castilian to foreclose their utilisation past times rebel Inca forces together with the site was non rediscovered until its digging inwards 1934.

As nosotros hike through the ruins nosotros get great views of the town below.

Saw the Dominicus Temple together with Dominicus Gate

INTIPUNKU (SUN GATE):

Then nosotros went on the path to Cristo Moqo...

Cristo Moqo:

Later covered the balance of the ruins

Emerged on the other side where our driver was waiting...

Qenko:

We drove on toward Qenko next.

Located unopen to Saqsayhuman, virtually half dozen kms (4 miles) from Cusco, Qenko is a large stone together with intricate lithic complex that was idea to stimulate got been used by the Incas for ceremonial purposes.

The Castilian gave it the advert Qenko later the Quechua word meaning “labyrinth or zigzag.” The advert may stimulate got derived later the small-scale yet intricate network of secret passages that brand upwards the site, or maybe for the mysterious zigzag channels carved into the rock.

Qenqo is a unique temple inwards its construction, every bit it’s carved solely out of a naturally occurring monolith. Many of the wak’as (holy places) inwards the Cusco portion were created around natural stone formations, but Qenqo is 1 of the largest together with most impressive inwards the area.

Adjacent to the primary stone of Qenko, at that spot is a large amphitheater. The amphitheater is formed past times an outer wall that has nineteen large niches, likely used for ceremonial purposes. At the centre of the amphitheater is a mysterious upright rock, which may stimulate got been carved inwards to the shape of a puma.

ALTAR:

A large natural cavity inwards the stone houses a stone altar, where the Incas would stimulate got performed rituals together with fifty-fifty sacrifices. Mummification may stimulate got taken house here.

Inca priests poured sacred chicha or llama blood into the zigzag channels every bit role of an annual ritual used to create upwards one's hear the fate of the next year’s crop.

We had the expert luck to encounter upwards amongst an Inca together with immortalized the occasion!

Then drove on toward Puca Pucara.

Puca Pucara:

This is a lovely village...houses amongst Incan symbols on the mud walls. Puma, condor, ophidian together with the Andean cross here...

Puca Pucara is a large fortress located about 8 kms (5 miles) from Cusco. Its name way blood-red fortress together with is taken from the blood-red granite used inwards its construction.

During Inca times, Puca Pucara was located on the route that Pb to the Antisuyo province of the Inca Empire. It was used every bit a guard post service that protected access to Cusco from the marauding tribes of the Amazonian east.

Unlike many other Inca structures nearby, Puca Pucara is built from irregular shaped stones which correspond together poorly, suggesting that the site was constructed inwards a hurry from an imminent threat. An interesting aspect of the architecture is the concentric organisation of the 3 walls that crown the highest role of the complex. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 unmarried entrance leads to chambers that could stimulate got been used to shop provisions for those garrisoned at the site.

Tambomachay, The Inca baths:

Tambomachay is located at 8 km to the northeast of Cusco; together with at 1 km of Puca-pucará. It is located at a foothill close the primary route to the Antisuyo, over the Tambomachay River. It occupies an surface area of 437 foursquare meters, located at 3,700 meters altitude.

Its advert derives from 2 Quechua words: Tampu, which way collective lodging; together with Mach'ay, which way resting-place. However, "machay" also way "caves", which would depict the exceptional environs of the place. It is composed of a ready of stone structures finely carved, aqueducts together with H2O falls originating from close springs together with thermal sources; it was likely related to the worship of water.

It's also known every bit "Baño de la Ñusta" (Bath of the Ñusta) or "Balneario Inca" (Incan Watering Place).

Water was worshiped every bit the source of life. Tambomachay has an extraordinary hydraulic system. Two aqueducts, artistically carved on the rock, carry together with hold a constant current of cook clean H2O during the whole year. This network of secret channels pours its waters inwards a small-scale stone situated at the lowest level.

So far the origin of the jump that supplies such clear together with abundant H2O to the sources is unknown. However, the 1 affair that cannot endure denied is the perfection of the channel carving.

The monument is remarkable due to its architectonic excellence. We tin appreciate 4 walls or graded terraces embedded to the hill, made of irregular carved-stone polyhedrons, brilliantly assembled, together with which brand upwards 3 parallel tillage terraces. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 thick wall (15 meters long together with 4 meters high) decorated amongst 4 niches is on the in conclusion polyhedron. The stones had been perfectly adjusted. It has 4 large trapezoidal niches of 2 meters on average. In front end of the edifice at that spot was a circular large fortified tower that must stimulate got had defence together with communication aims.

Cristo Blanco (White Christ) :

The statue of Cristo Blanco (White Christ) is located on top of a colina high higher upwards Cusco, close Sacsayhuaman. Cristo Blanco was built past times a grouping of Christian Palestinians that were seeking refuge inwards Cusco inwards 1945. It was a symbol of their gratitude toward the city, together with was their parting gift when they finally returned to their abode country.

SAN BLAS PLAZA:

We got dropped at our apt, had some nutrient together with so walked to the Plaza.

This is our street...

Reached the San Blas Church

There was a funeral service going on, so nosotros went to the Plaza

We came dorsum to the church building together with climbed its bell tower.

Plaza de armas:

We walked on to Plaza de Armas. These are dioramas... retablos

These await similar jharokha ...overhanging enclosed balcony used inwards Indian architecture.

love the alpaca sign.

Cusco cathedral here...

We walked on together with reached the famed Coricancha

Coricancha:

Coricancha, originally named Inti Kancha (Quechua inti sun) or Inti Wasi (Quechua for "sun house"), was the most of import temple inwards the Inca Empire, dedicated primarily to Inti, the Dominicus God.

Situated at an elevation of 11,150 feet, Cuzco was set out on a grid excogitation inwards the shape of a puma, a sacred mount lion. The pre-Inca site of Sacsayhuaman, on a plateau close the northern border of the city, forms the caput of the puma together with the Coricancha temple forms the centre of the grid.

When they conquered the Cusco valley, the founders of the Inca dynasty, Manko Qhapaq together with his family, settled on the site right away occupied past times the Qorikancha. Later the primary temple of the Inca Empire was constructed here.

Inca Pachakuti (or Pachakuteq), rebuilt the shrine together with endowed it amongst fabulous riches, together with its advert was changed to Qorikancha, which inwards Quechua way “golden enclosure”.

The walls together with floors were in 1 lawsuit covered inwards sheets of company gold, together with courtyard was filled amongst golden statues. Castilian reports tell of its opulence that was "fabulous beyond belief". When the Castilian required the Inca to heighten a ransom inwards gilt for the life of the leader Atahualpa, most of the gilt was collected from Qurikancha.

After the Castilian conquest inwards 1532, the Qorikancha savage to Juan Pizarro, 1 of Francisco Pizarro's brothers. Before his death, Juan Pizarro donated the Qorikancha to the Dominican Order. Founded inwards 1534, Cusco’s Saint Dominic Priory (Convento de Santo Domingo) was the showtime Dominican convent inwards Peru.

The Spanish colonists built the Church of Santo Domingo on the site, demolishing the temple together with using its foundations for the cathedral. Construction took most of a century. This is 1 of numerous sites where the Castilian incorporated Inca stonework into the construction of a colonial building. Major earthquakes severely damaged the church, but the Inca stone walls, built out of huge, tightly-interlocking blocks of stone, even so stand upwards due to their sophisticated stone masonry.

This curved, perfectly fitted 6m-high wall tin endure seen from both within together with exterior the site. This wall has withstood all of the vehement earthquakes that leveled most of Cuzco’s colonial buildings.

The nubs on this wall are solar alignment markers.

Qoricancha: This is where the sun's rays strike on the solstices.... temple of the sun.

TAMBOR SOLAR:

“Solar Drum" is the modern advert given to the semicircular wall which inwards ancient times formed the exterior wall of the western side of the Qorikancha. It is an illustration of the perfection amongst which the Incas worked andesite. The primary construction of the Inca temple, the sleeping accommodation of the sun, was located unopen to this wall.

The Main Cloister is the key role of the Saint Dominic Priory, founded inwards 1534. Beneath its arches hang paintings from the serial “Life of Saint Dominic de Guzmán”, past times the 17th century creative mortal José Espinoza de los Monteros. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 pre-Hispanic ceremonial fountain carved from a unmarried block of stone occupies the centre of the cloister.

These Colonial paintings around the exterior of the courtyard contain several representations of dogs belongings torches inwards their jaws. These are God’s guard dogs (dominicanus inwards Latin), thus the advert of this religious order.

Five temples or wasi were placed around the primary foursquare courtyard of Coricancha. In social club of hierarchy, 1 temple was dedicated to the creator god Viracocha (more or less equal to Inti), 1 to Quilla the goddess of the moon, 1 to Venus or Chaska-Qoylor, 1 to the god of thunder Illapa, together with finally 1 for Cuichu the rainbow god. Just every bit Inti's temple was covered inwards gold, Quilla's temple was covered inwards silver, a metallic idea to endure the tears of the moon. Each wasi contained a cult statue of that exceptional god together with precious fine art together with religious objects connected to them.

The temple walls were lined amongst some 700 solid-gold sheets, each weighing virtually 2kg. There were life-sized gilt together with argent replicas of corn, which were ceremonially ‘planted’ inwards agricultural rituals.

Also reported were solid-gold treasures such every bit altars, llamas together with babies, every bit good every bit a replica of the sun, which was lost. But within months of the arrival of the showtime conquistadors, this incredible wealth had all been looted together with melted down.

Inca chambers prevarication to either side of the courtyard.

The largest, to the right, were said to endure temples to the Luna together with the stars, together with were covered amongst sheets of company silver. The walls are perfectly tapered upward and, amongst their niches together with doorways, are first-class examples of Inca trapezoidal architecture. The plumbing fixtures of the private blocks is so precise that inwards some places you lot can’t tell where 1 block ends together with the adjacent begins.

The main Inca chamber is located inwards the southern role of the old Qorikancha. Its most remarkable exceptional is the large opening amongst holes drilled into all its edges, known every bit the “Ceremonial Niche” or “Inca's Throne”. Until the 1940s this sleeping accommodation served every bit the priory's chapterhouse together with was used past times the friars every bit a coming together place.

The mortarless masonry, earthquake-proof trapezoidal doorways, curved retaining wall, together with exquisite carving exemplify the Inca artistic together with technology scientific discipline skills

Stones amongst drilled grooves... 1 tin only estimate how these were done.

"SEQES SYSTEM" PAINTING:

Milky way prototype on the wall .In the Inca upper-case missive of the alphabet together with its surroundings a expose of shrines, temples together with sacred places consisting of rocks, caves, springs, etc, were venerated past times the people of Cusco, who called them wakas, inwards Quechua.

These wakas were connected amongst each other past times imaginary lines called seqes. The Qorikancha formed the hub from which all the seqes radiated. The prototype past times the Cusco-born creative mortal Miguel Araoz shows the distribution of Cusco’s seqes.

Incas Golden Model Of Universe, Koricancha:

Inside the primary courtyard, is this golden plate amongst images that correspond the inca's vision of the cosmos, told past times the chronicler Santa Cruz Pachacuti. In these drawings nosotros tin reckon the god Wiracocha, the Sun, the Moon, Venus, the Rainbow, the Lightning, a human being together with a woman, a tree together with stars. Incas were non for sure virtually appearance of their primary god Wiracocha, they stimulate got drawn an oval inwards social club non to insult him. Incas Golden Model Of Universe, Koricancha Temple, Cuzco.

A representation of the all-powerful creator Viracocha Pacha Yachachi every bit an oval disc, left together with right the Sun Inti together with Luna Qilla.

Below these the Morning Star together with Evening Star respectively,

Below the Morning Star a expose of stars represents the Pleiedes representing the fourth dimension of summer, together with the cross amongst 4 stars looks similar the southern cross;

Far right are clouds representing the fourth dimension of winter;

The circular disc represents Mother globe or Pachamama, crowned amongst a rainbow together with engraved amongst mountains together with a river;

The teardrop shape represents Mama Cocha, the goddess of the sea;

In the centre are a human being together with a woman; the 7 small-scale discs correspond seeds, from which all life is created, together with on the right is a tree representing ancestors;

The grid represents the agricultural fields or crop terraces of the Incas - essential for life.

A serial of Inca stones displayed reveals the fascinating concept of virile mortal together with woman mortal blocks, together with how they correspond together. C shaped groove ... 2 such blocks had bronze poured inwards the groove to concord them together

The gardens are located on terraces from the Inca period, reconstructed inwards the 20th century, together with are planted amongst a expose of native species: qeuñas (a native tree that grows at high altitudes), fuchsias (a shrub that produces decorative red, white together with pinkish flowers) together with qantus (a shrub that produces Peru's national flower).