Stonework at Sacsayshuaman—The City Nephi Built – Part VII

Continued from the previous post regarding the fortress and more specifically grounds and structures around Sacsayhuaman which was an architectural masterpiece, with impressive megalithic ruins located in the peak of a hill that dominates the north of the city. The historians of the Spanish conquest attributed it initially for military purposes that then became religious, and finally a place of work.
    The walls are formed by enormous stone blocks that were assembled in a perfect way without use of cement. The main wall is constituted by three successive walls in zigzag, the second and the third superimposed to the first one. The platforms have an average of  1200-feet in length and communicate by stairs, and access doors. The throne, benches or seats surrounded by rocks in front of the ramparts north of Sacsayhuaman that dominate the esplanade and the hill located in the same plateau. Sacsayhuamán was scenario of important historical facts, especially during the Spanish conquest.

The steps and stairs at Sacsayhuaman

Rodadero Stairs. Along with carved outcrops and boulders at Rodadero Hill are carved steps to the top of the hill, as well as carved steps throughout the complex. Though there is much discussin about their not being stairs in the temple of Solomon, we actually find in Hebrew history and the building of Solomon’s Temple that there were winding stairs in the middle chamber that workers ascended to receive their wages (I Kings 6:8). The word “Lullim” וּבְלוּלִּ֗ים is used for “stairs,” as found in the Old Testament.
    The staircase mentioned in Solomon’s Temple was obviously unlike those of most Eastern buildings, within the side structure. These side chambers were used while the Temple was being built for the purpose of paying the workmen their wages. Later, they were used as store-houses or treasury rooms of the Temple into which the treasures and gifts to the Temple were placed. Historians feel it necessary to state how the second and third stories were reached, and the staircase which led to them causes him to speak of the position of the door which opened upon it.

Steps in Solomon’s Temple

There were also steps on the east side of the altar (Ezekiel 43:17). In addition, there were other stairs in the temple, both to the large altar as well as to the Holy Place, the Beautiful Gate, and the Upper Court. Obviously, Lehi and his sons, when attending the temple were familiar with the stairs, and used the technology (over previous use of ramps) when building the city of Nephi.
    In addition to the area around Cuzco there were numerous places established anciently by those early Peruvians.
1.Kencco (or Qenko). A sanctuary dedicated to the adoration of animals, ruins formed by a rocky place with stairs in zigzag, it has a main building like a circular amphitheater where 19 window sills are located as a way of seats. It is presumed that this place was an adoration place, supporting this presumption the presence of an enormous stone block of 20-feet height that has the appearance of a puma. There is a labyrinth entrance toward underground galleries, passages, channels, and stairs with signs of a remote culture; these reveal a series of drawings and engravings outstanding the figures of pumas. It is located at 2½ miles from the Main Square of Cuzco city along the way to Sacsayhuamán.

Puca Pucará was built from irregular shaped stones which fit together poorly, suggesting the site was constructed in a hurry because of an imminent threat

2. Puca Pucará. Another archaeological location, located in the peak of a hill overlooking the road to Pisac, it was a military position and an administrative center. Its name means “red fortress” and is taken from the red granite that was used in its construction. For its proximity to Tambomachay, it is believed that it had relationship with its defense as an outpost, as well as the control of the route to Calca that led to the Forest County.
    It is a fortification formed by platforms, stairs, passages, turrets, windowsills and a wall that defends the whole construction in a circular shape. In Puca Pucará there are places, inner plazas, baths, aqueducts, and an old road. The buildings are made of stones that come in many sizes medium-small, on the surface of the rocks is very irregular, compared with other archaeological remains. It is located at 4½ miles from the Main Square of Cuzco city.

Tambomachay consists of a series of aqueducts, canals, and waterfalls that run through the terraced rocks

3. Tambomachay. Construction of fine lithic finishes and high domain of the hydraulic engineering. It is a group of walls, united by stairs, with springs that fall to a puddle through channels. The fall of water that gets the attention in these ruins part from the terrace of the second wall and the drainage spill on the first where a small puddle is found. The window sills, hole or niches of 6½ feet high, was the place from where water poured from drains into a pool, which is considered a set of baths ancient. according to the historians, an important people of his court subdue cult to the god Inti (sun) with rites of water. It is located at 5 miles from the Main Square of Cuzco city.

Laqo, Lanlakuyoq and Cusilluchayoq

4. Laqo, Lanlakuyoq and Cusilluchayoq. A pre-Hispanic adoration places, located 3 miles east of Cuzco. There are representations of felines, monkeys and snakes carved in the rocks. It is a particularly interesting place for the followers of occult and spiritual movements.
    Its fertile lands make then excellent producers of potatoes, ollucos, ocas, lima beans, barley and wheat, traditional products which crops existed during Inca time and they continue being the commerce axis of that zone.
    These pre-Columbian observatories were ceremonial centers of worship with a singularly beautiful landscape and abundant flora and fauna. This includes llama, kestrels and falcons.

Chinchero

5.Chinchero. Located some 28 km (17.4 miles) to the northwest of Cusco, the so-called "El Pueblo Del Arco Iris" (the town of the rainbow), or Chinchero is an ancient town of Hispanic architecture but built on old Inca construction.
    Its people are the most conservative of the Inca traditions, wearing traditional clothing and are famous for carrying out the "catu", or exchange fair of agricultural products, in which the use of the currency is discarded and everything is made in exchange. Also outstanding are their textile crafts. The town also has a beautiful colonial church with famous paintings of the Escuela Cusqueña (Cuzco school) depicting beautiful Andean landscapes surround the town, along with the snowy mountains of Chicon and Veronica in the Urubamba mountain range.

Oenqo

Qenqo (Kencco). From the Quechua language meaning labyrinth or zig zag, located about 3½ miles north of Cuzco. It sits on the adjoining hill to the east from Sacsayhuaman and supports numerous ruins. Specifically, Qenqo (O’enko) presents a circular amphitheater and rocky stairs in zigzag form. In the interior it has a meticulous and finely elaborated altar where agrarian rituals were performed, in the upper part of this rocky place there is a series of seats, steps and carved stairways. It is one of the largest huacas (holy places) in the Cusco Region. Many huacas were based on naturally occurring rock formations. It was believed to be a place where rituals and mummification took place.
    Obviously, as the ancient Peruvians expanded outward from Cuzco, where they spent the first 400 years of their presence in the Land of Promise, they obviously would have built other settlements, villages and cities. Beginning in the city of Nephi (Cuzco) we can track them outward in the various ruins that dot the area.
(See the next post, “Stonework at Sacsayshuaman—The City Nephi Built – Part VII,” for more regarding Sacsayhuaman and the surrounding constructions)