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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.”
Reference: text in italics and quotes paraphrased from the web page “The Only Peru Guide.”
Michael Stephen Wills Photography 