Despite all the scientific and technological advances we have today, there are still many in the world mysteries unsolved and, as you know, in Hard Hobbit To Break we like to talk to you about them. Without going any further, a few days ago we told you about the mysterious tomb of Newgrange in Ireland, about which many data are unknown.
Well, today we want to continue with more enigmas, although in this case we are going to move to Peru, where in addition to finding the famous Nazca lines, we can discover Sacsayhuamán, a strange site made up of limestone walls and rocks located very close to the Inca city of Machu Picchu, on the outskirts of Cuzco, capital of the ancient Inca empire. Do you want to discover more details about these archaeological remains? Well, you will have to join us!
Location
The known as Sacsayhuamán Archaeological Park is located on a hill located north of the city of Cusco, in Peru, and has an area of 2,296.6 hectares, where in addition to finding 33 Inca archaeological sites, you can discover a rich Andean flora and fauna, with the presence of llamas, hawks and kestrels. Of course, what we want to focus on today is the mystery that surrounds the Sacsayhuamán cyclopean masterpiece, both in terms of its construction and the purpose of this place. And it has not yet been possible to find out how the Incas were able to lift this type of stones and place them with such mastery.
A religious building
Although what remains now of the Sacsayhuamán Fortress are some ruins, it seems that in the XV century this place was an impressive complex full of sacred lagoons and different temples ceremonial. However, due to its location, when the Spanish arrived at the place they believed that it was a military construction, rather than a religious building. In any case, there are still doubts about it.
Strength
With the mystery of the purpose of this place practically solved, what is surprising about this fort is the engineering knowledge it took to build it. In fact, historians estimate that the work of some 20,000 men was needed for 70 years. And it is that the fortress was formed by large carved rocks that fit with each other with great precision. Surprisingly, some of the stones weigh between 90 and 128 tons and the walls can exceed 9 meters high. In addition, in some stones there are designed figures, in addition to underground tunnels, amphitheatres and ritual buildings. However, because of the annihilation the techniques that made the construction of this place possible disappeared from human Inca nobles.
Sun party
Every June 24, the day of the winter solstice in the southern hemisphere, the Festival of the Sun or Inti Raymi is celebrated in the Archaeological Park of Sacsayhuamán, a very important festival for the Incas, since it indicated the beginning of the year and the mythical origin of the Inca. Locals they stage the ritual of worshiping the Sun God with costumes and typical dances. If you want to be present at this celebration, you must reserve your place well in advance.
Other sites to see in the park
In addition to Sacsayhuamán, in this archaeological park you can find the Kenco sanctuary, dedicated to the worship of animals; Puca Pucara, a military post and an Inca administrative center; the sanctuary for the cult of water Tambomachay, known as the Baños del Inca; and the pre-Hispanic shrines Lago, Lanlakuyoq and Cusilluchayoq. Then we leave you with our Gallery, where you will find more images of Sacsayhuamán. Do not miss it!
Inca Fortress of Sacsayhuaman (April 2024)
- Cusco, history
- 1,230
