Stonework at Sacsayshuaman—The City Nephi Built – Part V

Continued from the previous post regarding the fortress and more specifically the tiered terraces at the back and tunnels, esplanade and area behind Sacsayhuaman.
    The three-terraced levels of the zig zag ramparts at Sacsayhuaman are an impressive example of ancient Peruvian military architecture. The site is protected by stone walls up to 60-feet high beneath the three towers that loomed over them on top of the well-guarded hill fortress. Beyond the terraces an area of open plain or esplanade runs in front of the ramparts on ground level that obviously functioned as a huge ceremonial square for religious and military events.
Between the Towers. Beyond the terraces an area of open plain or esplanade runs in front of the ramparts on ground level that obviously functioned as a huge ceremonial square for religious and military events. The area above between the towers had a series of foundational lines, believed to be part of the irrigation and potable water supply and a drainage system.

The stonework that covered most of the ground around the tower foundations

 

Beneath the towers the three tiers ran horizontally between them and the esplanade. These terraces were built up along the Sacsayhuaman collado or hill behind immense walls of cut and dressed stones that receded backwards up the hill of the artificially leveled mountain top. Today, the height of these levels above the initial wall at ground level are about 18 feet; however, before the Spaniards tore down the smaller stones on top, the walls were as much as 30-feet high.
Temple. The overall Sacsayhuaman is referred to as a temple complex or temple fortress by the early Spanish chroniclers. Next to the Muyumarca Tower was a rectangular building believed to be a temple. The surrounding rooms were filled with military equipment, but the temple walls were covered with gold sheets and silver ornamentation, with highly decorated “seats which were set apart for the high priests, which were above all the other seats, he did ornament with pure gold; and he caused a breastwork to be built before them, that they might rest their bodies and their arms upon while they should speak lying and vain words to his people” (Mosiah 11:11).
    This also brings to mind what else Mosiah wrote: “King Noah built many elegant and spacious buildings; and he ornamented them with fine work of wood, and of all manner of precious things, of gold, and of silver, and of iron, and of brass, and of ziff, and of copper… he also built him a spacious palace, and a throne in the midst thereof, all of which was of fine wood and was ornamented with gold and silver and with precious things… he also caused that his workmen should work all manner of fine work within the walls of the temple, of fine wood, and of copper, and of brass” (Mosiah 11:8-9).

The top of Sacsayhuaman Hill where the towers, temple, and fortress once stood existed before the Spanish tore them down

On top of a hill they had a very strong fort surrounded with masonry walls of stones and having two very high round towers. Because of its location high above Cusco and its immense terrace walls, this area of Sacsayhuamán is frequently referred to as a fortress. 
    Descriptions of the siege, as well as excavations at the site, had recorded towers on the summit of the site, as well as a series of other buildings. For example, Pedro Sancho, who visited the complex before the siege, mentions the labyrinth-like quality of the complex and its many storage rooms filled with a wide variety of items. He also notes that there were buildings with large windows that looked over the city. These structures, like so much of the site, have long since been destroyed.
    Sitting on the hill of sedimentary rock and diorite situated above the defensive walls and terrace, and adjacent to the round or Muyuc Marca tower was the temple. Today, it is called the temple of the sun, and according to Cieza, “it was more magnificent than any before it.”
    Garcilaso de la Vega claims that when he was young, he played in this complex, where numerous rooms were filled with many objects, and tunnels and
    This brings to mind when Nephi wrote: “And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon's temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine” (2 Nephi 5:16)

The locationof the hilltop buildings of the fortress at Sacsayhuaman

Speaking of the temple and the stone and its size that surround the buildings, Garcilaso reported that “its proportions are inconceivable when one has not actually seen it; and when one has looked at it closely and examined it attentively, they appear to be so extraordinary that it seems as though some magic had presided over its construction.” He also added, “How can we explain the fact that these Peruvian Indians were able to split, carve, lift, carry, hoist and lower such enormous blocks of stone, which are more like pieces of a mountain than buildings tones?”
    Descriptions of the siege, as well as excavations at the site, had recorded towers on the summit of the site, as well as a series of other buildings. For example, Pedro Sanchez de la Hoz, who was a Spanish noble in service of the King, granted directly by the Crown to governors and justices, visited the complex before the siege, mentions the labyrinth-like quality of the complex and its many storage rooms filled with a wide variety of items. He also notes that there were buildings with large windows that looked over the city. These structures, like so much of the site, have long since been destroyed (Brian S. Bauer, Ancient Cuzco, University of Texas Press, 2010)
    Which brings to mind what Nephi said when the Lord taught him how to build a ship. Said he: “Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men, neither did I build the ship after the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me; wherefore, it was not after the manner of men (1 Nephi 18:2). Once established in his own area, a land and city they called Nephi, he states “I did teach my people to build buildings, and to work in all manner of wood, and of iron, and of copper, and of brass, and of steel, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious ores, which were in great abundance (2 Nephi 5:15,17).

A water channel out of the mountains to the west running to Sacsayhuaman and the Muyukancha reservoir

Water. One water canal from the distant mountains to the west runs along the plain to Muyukancha (Round Place) or Qocha (pool or pond) located near the Rodadero, a rocky hill with numerous stairwells and benches carved into boulders and rock outcroppings. Muyukancha is a spring providing water to the Qocha Chincanas, a round artificial pond for ceremonial purposes.
    This 500,000-gallon water reservoir looks like a circular amphitheater north of Rodadero. It has aqueducts, cisterns, terraces, patios, stairs, buildings, throne, large reservoir, once used for Cuzco.
Rodadero Hill. Across the wide expanse of grass in front of the main defensive walls is a ceremonial site known as the Rodadero, a natural formation of diorite volcanic origin. In this most northern area of the Sacsayhuaman archaeological site, there are intricate carvings in the stone with seats or thrones cut into the natural rock that were likely used as a viewing platform during ceremonies. Behind this lies more sacred sites, including the spring of Calispucyo where initiation rituals were performed.

Part way up the Rodadero Hill is the Trono, or throne seats a rock outcrop beautifully carved with sacred steps. In the background are the tiered zig zag walls, and the site of the ancient buildings

This rock formation in which the ancient Peruvians carved benches, steps, ledges, nooks and niches as well as various other ceremonial features, such as altars built around or on top of a natural rock outcrop—all of which is immense as well as curious, with seats or benches expertly cut into the bedrock stone with astonishing accuracy for an ancient people.
    It is difficult to explain in any other way the maze of niches and shelves, seats and pedestals that are scattered about on every hand. Some are cut so irregularly as almost to bewilder the imagination.

On Rodadero Hill are numerous carvings, from seats to images, but what or how they were all used is only conjecture

Behind this of carved seats and altars, there is a section filled with small labyrinths, tunnels and vaulted niches in the walls. The angles of these carvings is as clean and perfect as if done today with modern technology. All around for a distance every rocky noll and all the many natural rocks were caved in this manner. There were many caves and intricate passages, and without doubt in former times from these caves led subterranean passages under the plain and into the interior of the Fortress Hill.
(See the next post, “Stonework at Sacsayshuaman—The City Nephi Built – Part V,” for more regarding the towers to the area known as Rodadero Hill)