Central Square

Central Square redux

All these celebrations ramifications in centers planned for the host to hundreds of citizens who saw the cult of their deities as well made

August 26, 2023August 25, 2023 MichaelStephenWills3 Comments

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“For the Inca civilization, and especially during the time that the city of Machu Picchu was the most important place as Sanctuary of the Inca aristocratic class, the Congregation of its inhabitants in the numerous events, mostly rituals and celebrations worshipping sacred Inca gods, as it had a very important and momentous significance for the Incan society. All these celebrations ramifications in centers planned for the host to hundreds of citizens who saw the cult of their deities as well made. Also, this civilization granted a special attention details, to organization and structure of both class, of the city itself, so that the expert anthropologist community has been able to prove the existence of a straight relationship between the main square and the structuring of the Incan society.“

“Among the several locations which have shaped the division of the Citadel of Machu Picchu in their different urban areas and consequently in their different social classes, the Central Square or Main Plaza of Machu Picchu is the symbol of one of the most important for hosting the more far-reaching sacred celebrations of the Inca religion, due to its vast size are the ideal location to accommodate this type of mass religious and social ceremonies. The Central Square shows how the Incan society followed a strict, but at the same time, well-structured organization of the city in their different social classes; the anthropologist community states that this vast space was created to establish the spaces of the city limited the inhabitants depending on its status quo within Inca society.”

“After several studies by experts of the world community of anthropology, it has come to understand that the Main Plaza has played a very important role in the Inca society and the segregation of its social classes. This explains the reason for the existence of a physical axis to do distinction of several Inca social classes, which were separated one from the other not only different privileges of every social class, but also by the existence of the sub urban areas which host different individuals of the society. The main square makes this Division structural member of the urban section of the city of Machu Picchu differentiating the two sub urban sectors known as Hanan or high sector, which is home to buildings with greater religious significance for the city, and Hurin or low sector.”

“The areas around the Central Plaza of Machu Picchu are surrounded by a rocky structure that accommodates a series of terraces from where you can appreciate a great view of Huayna Picchu. Here is where is located the construction of three covers, which gives way to the Central or main square, complex of buildings typical of the Inca civilization called “kanchas”, which all have a symmetrical distribution in their facades and are in turn communicated with the other, which favored the life of society in the city to offer a space that housed both spaces end residential for labor purposes through different plugs and local. The massive yet refined architecture of Machu Picchu blends exceptionally well with the stunning natural environment, with which it is intricately linked. Numerous subsidiary centers, an extensive road and trail system, irrigation canals and agricultural terraces bear witness to longstanding, often on-going human use.”

“The rugged topography making some areas difficult to access has resulted in a mosaic of used areas and diverse natural habitats. The Eastern slopes of the tropical Andes with its enormous gradient from high altitude “Puna” grasslands and Polylepis thickets to montane cloud forests all the way down towards the tropical lowland forests are known to harbor a rich biodiversity and high endemism of global significance. Despite its small size the property contributes to conserving a very rich habitat and species diversity with remarkable endemic and relict flora and fauna.“

Reference: text in italics and quotes is from the UNESCO World Heritage and Google Earth, Machu Picchu, web pages.

Copyright 2023 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved

Temple of the Three Windows

The tripartite world of the Incas.

August 20, 2023August 18, 2023 MichaelStephenWills

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“The Temple of the 3 Windows is one of the most surprising constructions in Machu Picchu. The carving of its walls is perfect. There are several hypotheses as to why they built three huge windows there with incredible views of the mountain range. It is presumed that the purpose was to worship the Inca gods, especially those who guard the tripartite world of the Incas: the heavenly world (Hanan pacha), the earthly world (Kay pacha) and the underworld (Uku pacha).
The temple is an immense trapezoidal wall, 10 meters long and 4 meters wide, built with huge stones carved and assembled to perfection.”

“All three windows are also trapezoidal. On both sides there are two additional closed windows (like niches) where the Incas left ceremonial objects of gold and silver.”

“The temple served a religious function. The white granite stone with which it was built has a different carving from the rest of the constructions at Machu Picchu. The fineness of its walls indicates that it was one of the most important buildings in the citadel.”

“A few steps from this temple there are other buildings with religious purposes of great importance: the Main Temple, the Temple of the Sun and the Intihuatana.“

“There are many hypotheses about the religious rituals that were performed in the Temple of the 3 Windows. It is believed that the Inca worldview of the world divided into three worlds was worshiped: the heavenly world (Hanan pacha), the earthly world (Kay pacha) and the underworld (Uku pacha).”

“For the Incas, the Hanan pacha was the world of the gods, of the celestial beings (the sun, the moon, the stars). The Kay pacha was the earthly world, of men and animals. Finally, the Uku pacha was the world of the dead, of beings that wait to reincarnate to return to the earthly world.”

“The tripartite world of the Incas was represented by three animals: the condor (kuntur), the puma (puma) and the snake (amaru). The ‘three’ is present in many of the Inca constructions such as the ‘chakana’ (also called the Andean cross) present in the Temple of the Sun in Ollantaytambo.”

Reference: text in italics and quotes paraphrased from the web page “imachupicchu.com.”

Copyright 2023 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved

Main Temple

Earthquakes over the years have undermined the Main Temple structure.

August 18, 2023August 17, 2023 MichaelStephenWills

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“The Main, or Principle, Temple situated on the Sacred Plaza of the Urban Sector of Machu Picchi, is an impressive rectangular shaped building consisting of two lateral and one rear wall. The base of the temple are large lithic stones supporting more regular sized and precisely carved stones. The temple features seventeen trapezoidal shaped niches most likely used for ceremonial offerings. Six stone pegs of the rear walls might have been used to hang decorations or aid rituals.“

“Tradition states during Inca times the temple was adorned with colorful mantles, emblems and mummies of important Inca leaders and an effigy of P’unchao, a divine sacred symbol made of solid gold representing the Inca god Wiraqocha. When the Incas abandoned Machu Picchu at the time of the Spanish Conquest, they removed the most important artefacts leaving behind just the stone structure.”

“Earthquakes over the years have undermined the Main Temple structure, notably the rear right hand corner of the building, where the stones have separated and moved downwards.”