The temple of Coricancha (“golden temple”), in the time of the Incas was called Inticancha, i.e. "Temple of the Sun" The Coricancha Temple was the main temple of the Supreme Inca. Built in 1438, it was destroyed by the conquistadors. Currently, all that remains of the temple is the stone foundation on which the Spaniards erected the Church of Santo Domingo. Initially, the walls of the Korikancha temple were covered with seven hundred gold plates, weighing two kilograms each, and within the temple fence there was a golden garden in which golden llamas grazed and a field of golden corn grew.
They say that everything in it was made of gold and silver: fields of corn, fruit trees, animals, fabulous birds, lizards and snakes. Golden butterflies hung on thin golden threads, and the walls were entwined with golden vines. And all this was done in life-size, causing admiration and delighting the eyes of visitors, generating rumors about the fabulous splendor of Coricancha.
The Koricancha Temple had a golden altar and the Golden Disk of the Sun God Inti. It is believed that the Indians voluntarily gave some of the decorations of the temple to the Spaniards as a ransom for the Supreme Inca Atahualpa. But most of the ritual gold of the Sun God Inti, according to legend, was hidden by the Incas in the caves of the Vilcabamba mountain range, between the Apurimac and Urubamba rivers, where it was taken by caravans of laden lamas. The greatness and glory of the Coricancha Temple in the Inca Empire was so great that people living in the most remote corners of the empire sought to get to Cusco just to visit the Coricancha Temple.
The Coricancha Temple was the most important shrine of the Incas, and was created specifically for the Sun God Inti. Covered with sheets of pure gold, Coricancha shone in the sun and was visible from a great distance. And yet, the most amazing thing about it was not the gold, but the stonework that the builders used to connect the polygonal blocks. It was this that allowed all Inca structures to withstand the most destructive earthquakes. At the same time, the Cathedral of St. Domingo, erected on Incan masonry, was destroyed twice and had to be rebuilt.
And the Inca masonry easily and without damage withstood all the earthquakes. The masonry really seems incredibly complicated. There are 12 corners and sides on the corner blocks in one plane. It is impossible to insert even a safety razor blade into the gaps at the joints of the blocks. Which modern builder can repeat this? It remains a mystery how these huge blocks were delivered from distant quarries.
The Supreme Incas elevated the cult of the Sun God Inti to the rank of state policy, on a par with Viracocha, proclaiming themselves “sons of the Sun.”
Flight to Cusco 
Cusco: Translated from the Quechua language, Cusco means “navel of the earth.” According to legend, the city was founded in the 12th century. the first Inca was Manco Capac, the son of the sun, who symbolically marked his stay there by sticking a golden rod into the ground. 
Koricancha Temple. The "Temple of the Sun" was the most important temple of the Inca Empire. Destroyed after the conquistador invasion. Currently, in the center of the city of Cusco in Peru, the ruins of the temple remain. After a strong earthquake in 1650, the Cathedral of Santo Domingo (St. Dominic) was built over them. The four former rooms of the temple were used as a monastery. A strong earthquake in 1950 damaged the cathedral and exposed some ruins of the Incan temple. 
Excursion. Once upon a time, it was here that the Incas held their main ritual celebration - the winter solstice. 
Mounting holes. 
The most amazing thing about the Temple was not the gold with which it was covered, but the stonework that the builders used to bind the polygonal blocks together. It was this that allowed all Inca structures to withstand the most destructive earthquakes. At the same time, the Cathedral of St. Domingo, erected on Incan masonry, was destroyed twice and had to be rebuilt. 
Window system. 
Unique stone processing requiring high-tech equipment. 
And in one of the rooms, the guides like to show the smallest stone, which the builders apparently used as a “patch.” 
Frescoes of the Monastery of Santo Domingo 
Inner courtyard of the monastery. A ritual well from the pre-Inx era has been preserved in the center. 
The action of the Peacemakers, the monastery courtyard in the form of a natural neutralizer 
Working with etheric energy. 
The action of the Peacemakers, the VF stands below, and the peacekeepers are on the balconies of the monastery 
Interesting technology 
How is this done without special tools? 
Coricancha was also an observatory from which the high priests made observations of celestial bodies. 
Museum inside the monastery 
Ancient sliding doors, they had special mechanisms that have not survived, but the places where they were installed are visible 
This is not an ordinary gate....Judge for yourself 
The wall was built from slabs, loosely laid one on top of the other and not fastened with anything. Individual stones were given complex geometric shapes; there is even a stone in the wall that has 12 corners. 
The masonry, you can see with the naked eye how well the stones fit together and that nothing has been done to them over many many centuries in a place where there are constantly earthquakes. The masonry really seems incredibly complicated. There are 12 corners and sides on the corner blocks in one plane. It is impossible to insert even a safety razor blade into the gaps at the joints of the blocks. Which modern builder can repeat this? It remains a mystery how these huge blocks were delivered from distant quarries. 
On an excursion. 
Initially, the walls of the Korikancha temple were covered with seven hundred gold plates, weighing two kilograms each, and within the temple fence there was a golden garden in which golden llamas grazed and a field of golden corn grew. They say that everything in it was made of gold and silver: fields of corn, fruit trees, animals, fabulous birds, lizards and snakes. Golden butterflies hung on thin golden threads, and the walls were entwined with golden vines. And all this was done in life-size, causing admiration and delighting iK art. Coricancha. The walls of Coricancha were covered with such golden slabs for the eyes of visitors, giving rise to rumors about the fabulous splendor of Coricancha. The Koricancha Temple had a golden altar and the Golden Disk of the Sun God Inti. 
When you fly here from the always grayish Lima, the city seems transparent, permeated with the sun and, although poor in oxygen, somehow tasty air. Red tiled roofs and cheerful carved balconies soften the stone heaviness of the city and give it lightness. You can walk around this small city endlessly, finding its own zest in every building. 
Cusco means “navel of the earth” in Quechua. It was from here, from the central square of the city, that the Empire was divided into four districts by imaginary lines, and all the roads left from here. To paraphrase a well-known saying, it can be said without exaggeration that all roads of the Inca Empire led to Cusco. 
The main square of Cusco, referred to in Incas times as Huacaipata, or “square of the warriors,” was the site of many of the most important events in the history of the city: here the conquistador Francisco Pizarro proclaimed the conquest of Cusco, and here the leader of the local opposition movement, Tupac Amaru 1st, was killed . Also, the main square is the venue for a number of holidays and festivals. With the advent of the Spaniards, the main square of Cusco began to transform; amazingly beautiful stone arches appeared on it, preserved in their original form to this day. 
Cusco Cathedral 
Built on the ruins of the Inca Temple of the Sun 
In this temple, different eras and cultures are clearly visible, the Sinkov walls, the Catholic luxury of painting, and the mahogany hall 
Decoration of the Cathedral. 
Cathedral in Cusco By the way, Zapak depicted Judas, sitting below right, with a bag of money clutched in his fist, as Francisco Pizarro, the conqueror of Peru. 
The decoration of the Cathedral, unusual vaults for a Catholic church 
Symbolism in the Cathedral. 
Sacsayhuaman (Quechua Saksaywaman - lit. Well-fed falcon or well-fed hawk; in Spanish transcription Sacsayhuaman) is a ceremonial complex in Cusco, erected, according to legend, by the first Inca Manco Capac. In Kuzco's plan, what resembles a puma is its teeth. 
The fortress lies on an artificially leveled mountain peak and is surrounded by three outer defensive walls, 1,500 feet long and 54 feet wide. In the center of the fortress there is a round stone structure - the solar calendar of the great Incas. The ruins also include a huge water storage pool, barrels for storing supplies, citadels and underground chambers 
On an excursion. 
Sacsayhuaman is one of the most mysterious buildings; indeed, if you look closer, the stones fit so tightly together that it is impossible to insert even a knife blade between them. 
In the fortress there are stones weighing 50-200 tons. 
The cardinal difference is in the laying and processing of stones. The new layout is chaotic, lacks such close contact, and the stones are much smaller in size. Compared to the fundamental bastions of Sacsayhuaman, these “bricks” look like a child’s game of small towns. Therefore, there is a point of view that the Incas had already come to a ready-made foundation built by other... civilizations 
It was as if the stones stuck to each other more than once withstood the strongest earthquakes that destroyed the houses built by the Spaniards. 
We are Here and Now. 
One of the largest buildings of the fortress is also made in the form of a zigzag, which symbolizes the image of lightning or a snake. Local legend says that the warrior placed his fist in the "head of the snake", which gave him "strength, courage and magical energy to defeat his enemies" 
According to one legend, the Sacsayhuaman fortress, the cities of Cusco and Machu Picchu were built by the Viracochas - white bearded alien demigods who mastered the art of softening and hardening stone. 
There were several trapezoid-shaped gates in the walls that could be locked using stone blocks. The fortress had three large towers that housed troops whose task was to guard and defend Cusco 
In Peru, every major city has a statue of Issus on the mountain above the city, and Cusco is no exception. 
Job 
Job. 
The rocks seem to be melted by an unknown radiation... 
Catacombs were found under the fortress, most likely leading to other structures in the Inca capital, the city of Cusco. 
The size of the stone blocks surprises even the most seasoned... 
Strange niches. 
After the excursion, as elsewhere in the world, tourists are greeted by souvenir sellers. 
"Kenko" - lit. "Labyrinth" is an archaeological site in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Kenko is often called an “amphitheater” due to the semicircular layout of the monument. It served as an altar, tribune or grave. It is assumed that the monument was one of the most important Inca sanctuaries. 
The ritual stone of this Temple is a huge block of stone, 5 m 90 cm in height, which looks like a puma;. Today it is half destroyed. According to one version, the stone, whose outline resembled a puma, was destroyed by the conquistadors; according to another, its outline resembled a phallus, which collapsed under the influence of earthquakes. 
The Guardian of this Temple was in this stone. 
We all asked him for permission to go to the temple, we go in Peace 
Inside this labyrinth there is a hidden cave. The Incas performed sacrifices in this cave. On a “table” carved from solid stone, they allegedly killed only animals. Ritual knives were kept in a niche nearby, but they have not survived to this day. 
It is generally accepted that the Incas did not perform human sacrifices. However, during excavations in a niche under the sacrificial stone, human bones were also found among animal bones! During times of frequent earthquakes or solar eclipses, the most beautiful virgins who dedicated themselves to serving the Sun were sacrificed on this stone... 
We joined the altar with MF 
From the walls of Sacahuaman there is a beautiful view of the valley in which the city of Cusco lies 
The next morning, we go to Machu Picchu, the Andes are visible from the bus window. Andes in the Inca language means copper, copper mountains. The Andes are a large interoceanic watershed and serve as the most important climatic barrier in South America, isolating the territories to the west of the Main Cordillera from the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, and to the east from the influence of the Pacific Ocean 
We arrived at the station. From here we will take a comfortable train to Aguas Calientes 
The train from Ollantaytambo runs once a day in the morning and then takes tourists back in the evening 
A special van for tourists, you can look at the high mountains, amazing landscapes outside the window, and the speed of weather change, in a few minutes from rain to bright sun, from thick fog to eye-catching brightness of colors. VF reminds you of the purpose of the trip and the thought form. 
Along the way we took many pictures of beautiful views. But the most important thing is that we moved along the Inca Road from Machu Picchu to Cusco - a wonderful example of the art of the Inca builders. Even during the rainy season the road is in excellent condition. The entire empire was covered by a wide network of communications, approximately 40,000 km long. Roads in the Inca state were, first of all, of strategic importance - troops had to pass along them. In addition, they promoted cultural exchange between all regions of the state. Thanks to the roads, people learned from each other the art of ceramics, weaving, metalworking, architecture and construction, but it takes another 3 days to walk along it completely on foot. 
We rode the train past Inca-era buildings 
A town at the foot of the complex on Machu Picchu, which is called Aguas Calientes. We took buses here and climbed a steep serpentine road high up the mountain to the very foot of Machu Picchu 
Once upon a time, Machu Picchu was home to priests, high nobility, artisans and servants, and most importantly, mamakunas, chosen virgins who dedicated their lives to serving the Sun God. This city, with its pedestrian alleys, sacred fountains and aqueducts through which crystal clear water still flows, has never known poverty. 
The most important advantage of Machu Picchu is its unique beauty, mystery and proximity to the sun. Inca aestheticism reached its maximum with the creation of this perfect city. The harmony of strict geometric architectural forms and smooth lines of the mountains and valleys surrounding Machu Picchu is striking. From whatever point you look at the city, it fits perfectly into the landscape. And it is not surprising that people come here not only for knowledge and impressions, but also for spiritual energy: this is where they look for a connection with the cosmos and the universe, and miraculously find it in this place... 
This ancient Inca city is often called the “city in the sky” or “the city among the clouds,” and this is not surprising, because Machu Picchu is located on the top of a mountain range, at an altitude of 2450 meters above sea level. Here you can often see clouds right at the level of ancient buildings, so it seems that the city, like a bird, is soaring in the clouds. 
Here are the Peacemakers on Machu Picchu! 
On the way of the Incas. The Incas did not know wheels, and mountain roads were most often stepped. Those that passed along the ocean coast were specially fenced on both sides with adobe walls that protected them from the sun, wind and sand drifts. If there was a swampy lowland on the way, an embankment was made. Stone bridges were built across the rivers and suspension rope bridges were thrown, which were considered sacred objects by the Incas - death awaited anyone who damaged the bridge. 
view from Machu Pikchu, translated as “old peak”, of Mount Uina Picchu (young mountain), one of the Peacemakers dared to climb it from one side of the altar of a man from the other woman - Peru, February 2012, Cusco "title=" Joint action with Yekaterinburg:
on one side of the altar there is a man on the other - a woman - Peru, February 2012, Cusco" data-size="1280x853">
title="Joint action with Yekaterinburg:
on one side of the altar there is a man on the other - a woman - Peru, February 2012, Cusco">
Действие совместное с г.Екатеринбургом:!}
on one side of the altar there are men and on the other there are women 
Like all Inca temples of the sun (masculine) and moon (feminine) 
The highest point of the city was called Intihuatana - “the place where the sun is tied.” It contains a special polygonal ritual stone; here the priests kept track of time - determined the time of day, calculated months and years. Without a doubt, the best time to start sowing or harvesting was also determined here. 
A ceremony of symbolically binding the sun was associated with the altar stone carved into the rock; it was carried out so that the luminary would not leave Machu Picchu during the winter solstice. During the ceremony, various sacrifices were made; it is believed that these could have been not only animals, but also children. 
On a tour. Time spent at the main altar is limited. Tourists come up and go down. 
The maximum allowed number of people in a group is 20 people. There are 44 of us, moving in two groups of 22 people. We try to stick together. At 12.00 contact with the guys in Yekaterinburg for joint action. the guards hurry. Volodya says: “Raul, save me, we have to hold out for another 3 minutes before the connection! Are there any handouts?” Raoul: “Yes.” Volodya: “Come on, please speak before 12.00” 
Action at a specified time. Here it is 12.00, and in Ekaterinburg it is 23.00. 
Altar in the form of a panther's face 
Terraces and Urubamba River 
Our group near the altar photo from Mount Huayna Picchu, taken by Vasily, the only one of us who was able to climb Wayna Picchu. 
View of Machu Picchu and the ancient city from Mount Wayna Picchu. 
According to legend, all the walls of the buildings of this city were lined with sheets of gold, and when the colonialists invaded the country, the inhabitants of Machu Picchu collected the gold and left. The fate of the city's inhabitants and the countless treasures hidden from the greedy conquistadors still remains unknown. During excavations in the burials, 173 human skeletons were discovered, of which 150 were female, and no gold jewelry. 
This block of stone (3*7 meters) is called La Roca Sagrada. It looks like a puma, is installed on the ritual square and completely copies the surrounding landscape. Everyone who wanted to did an individual meditation here. 
Ancient masonry is below, and Inca-era masonry is above. According to the unofficial version, the ancient masonry dates back to the times of Hyperborea and Atlantis, and the Incas had already completed the construction of the old temple and adapted it for their rituals 
Altar of one of the inner temples of the city 
Working with Thought Form. 
Stone bowls. Some researchers believe that the Incas observed stars in the reflection of water at night, others believe that they symbolize male and female energy and are connected with the mountains Machu Picchu and Wauna Picchu. 
Action of men's and women's cups 
Our men in action. 
PeaceMakers 
Scientists are still arguing about the purpose of a number of temples in Machu Picchu. It is unknown, for example, which deity was worshiped in the so-called Temple of the Three Windows, located in the eastern part of the city square. The temple has three trapezoid-shaped windows facing east. However, on their sides there are also “blind windows” of the same size, which could serve as niches. According to the Incas, the windows of this temple led to infinity - this is the only thing that scientists were able to find out. 
This Sanctuary is called the Temple of Three Windows. Through these windows, the rays of the sun penetrated into the Sacred Square, where the rituals took place. For the Incas, the number three was very symbolic; according to legend, it was through three windows that the three founding rulers of the Inca civilization entered the earthly world. 
Torren (Temple of the Sun) and the stone altar inside, this is the altar on which, as legend says, the most beautiful girls were sacrificed to the gods. Such sacrifices were performed rarely and only in honor of the Sun. The ritual took place at sunrise. The blood that irrigated the stones was supposed to help the birth of the luminary. The sacred power of the virgins went to heaven, and the lifeless bodies remained lying on the pedestal so that the Sun could take away every drop of all their strength and energy. 
Of the temples of Machu Picchu, the most significant and famous is the Temple of the Sun. Due to its semicircular wall and location on the edge of a rock ledge, it is sometimes compared to a condor's nest. Inside, behind the wall of the temple, there is a huge granite pedestal, covered with many potholes; most likely, it played the role of an altar and sacrifices were made on it. On the summer solstice, when the sun rises, a streak of light always appears on the surface of this stone altar. Undoubtedly, from this temple the priests made astronomical observations and determined the exact position of the sun to conduct their mystical rituals. 
Connection with Huaynu Picchu. 
The Temple of the Condor is quite unusual. It got its name thanks to a stone that repeats the outline of a bird's head and beak. 
Wings of the Condor, in the Temple of the Condor 
Behind this stone rise two rocks, symbolizing the wings of a bird. According to scientists, this stone also served as an altar; on the “beak” there is a groove through which the blood of the victims probably flowed. It is known that the Incas had a cult of the condor; this bird personified freedom and air among the Indians. It is possible that this temple was associated with the cult of the condor. The connection with the feminine principle is obvious... 
Magnetic stone, here the needles of (ordinary magnetic) compasses behave unusually, the corner of the stone points directly to the top of Machu Picchu 
Job 
Vasily descended from Huayna Picchu mountain (young mountain), but the largest one, the only one who managed to get there from our group! The climb was not easy, but it was worth it. And how wonderful it is to wash your face with rainwater from a sacred well after meeting with friends! 
Water Temple, next to the Sun Temple 
A system of sacred wells and storm drains that still operates properly. 
This is how the fashion show of designer alpaca products began on the train. 
With a Peruvian buffoon. 
Ethnic items made from cashmere and alpaca were offered for purchase along with a fun fashion show 
This is how the day of the trip to Machu Picchu ended 
Machu Picchu is a magical place in terms of sensations, amazing and stunning in beauty, sacred and powerful in energy, where everyone could find and find a piece of themselves, and also give a piece for the restoration of the Earth, for the common cause for which we strived there... .
The Coricancha Temple and the Santo Domingo Monastery became a symbol of the clash between the ancient Andean culture and European civilization. Coricancha was the most important sanctuary of the Sun God during the Inca Empire, on whose walls the Spanish colonists built the Monastery of Santo Domingo.
Myths and facts
Qorikancha literally translates as “Golden Temple”. Initially it was called Inti kancha - “temple of Inti” - the sun god, the main deity of the Inca pantheon. Accounts of the Spanish conquistadors tell of an "incredibly fabulous" glittering palace covered entirely in gold leaf, with countless life-size gold and silver statues of plants and animals in the courtyard. In addition to hundreds of golden panels and figures, in the center was an altar in the shape of a huge golden disk. During the summer solstice, the disk reflected sunlight, illuminating the niche of the temple where the Inca leader sat. 
The luxurious palace was the most important Inca temple, built in 1438. About 4,000 priests once lived within its boundaries. Coricancha also served as the main astronomical observatory. There were other Inca temples dedicated to the gods of nature: the moon, Venus, thunder, lightning and rainbows.
The Incas had to give up most of the Coricancha wealth as ransom for their captives during the Spanish conquest. But the sacred gold was paid in vain. Afterwards, the Spaniards still plundered the temple and tore off the remaining jewelry, and founded the monastery of Santo Domingo (St. Dominic) on the skillfully laid stone walls of the sanctuary. A major earthquake in Peru in 1950 severely damaged the monastery and exposed some fragments of the Inca temple, built from huge, tightly fitted stone blocks, which still stand intact thanks to the peculiarities of the complex masonry.
What to see
The baroque church of the Monastery of Santo Domingo pales next to the exquisite craftsmanship of the Inca stonework that is the main attraction of this complex. During the major reconstruction of both buildings after the earthquake, a significant part of the monastery was removed, revealing the four original halls of the temple.
The earthquake-resistant masonry, trapezoidal doorways, curved retaining wall, and exquisite carvings are a clear example of the Inca's engineering and artistic skills. Stand on the small platform in the first room to see the precise symmetry of the holes in the stone slabs that fit together perfectly.
Near Santo Domingo there is an underground archaeological museum that houses surviving mummies, textiles and statues of sacred idols found during excavations. 
- Address: Santo Domingo s/n, Cusco, Peru
- Telephone: +51 84 249176
- Working hours: 08:30-17:30, Sunday - closed
- Ticket prices: 10 PEN/€2.6
The Coricancha Temple is located in one of the most mysterious and impressive -. More precisely, all that remains of the once majestic temple are the stone walls, but they make no less a grandiose impression.
History of the templeAccording to some sources, the Coricancha Sun Temple was built by the Incas back in 1200. This majestic temple complex was distinguished by its non-standard design, perfectly smooth stonework and luxurious golden decoration. It was erected in honor of the six main Inca gods:
- sun god Inti;
- star god;
- creator god Viracocha;
- god of the rainbow;
- god of thunder;
- god Venus.
According to legends, each of the halls was decorated with gold and silver items, inlaid with figures of gods, and jugs with precious stones. The Coricancha Temple was very important for the inhabitants, as it united the various cultural traditions of all the tribes living in this territory. But the Spanish conquerors, who invaded the country, destroyed the once majestic temple complex through deception. In 1950, as a result of a strong earthquake, the ruins of the temple of the sun god - Inti were discovered. This is the only thing that has survived from this ancient complex.
Temple attractionsLike the city of Cusco itself, the Coricancha Temple is located in the Peruvian Andes. When you get here, you feel how thin the air is, but this makes the impressions of the historical monument even more vivid. Despite the fact that the Qorikancha temple complex was built back in the 1200s, even then people knew how to build perfectly level structures. Its base is made up of rectangular stone blocks that were once carved from andesite (a rock that was mined in the Andes) and granite. The stones fit each other so precisely that it seems as if they were folded using a special huge ruler. The same stonework can be seen inside the temple complex. In some rooms the ceiling decoration has been preserved. By its condition one can judge how luxuriously this building was decorated. Local residents still believe that part of the Incan gold reserve is still stored under the ruins of the temple.
In 1860, the Cathedral of St. Dominican, designed in the Spanish Baroque style, was added to the Coricancha temple. But even the skill of famous Spanish architects cannot compare with the engineering and artistic skills of the ancient Incas.
Once upon a time, next to the Koricancha temple, a garden was laid out, in which there were many gold and silver figures of animals and birds. There was even an entire cornfield made of precious metals. Now on the territory of the temple you can only find huge boulders and vegetation. After walking through the grounds of the Koricancha Sun Temple, you can go on a tour of the archaeological museum, which displays exhibits that once belonged to the temple. Here you can see ancient mummies, ancient religious idols and many other artifacts.
How to get there?In order to get to the Coricancha Temple, you need to drive from the center of Cusco to the Estacion de Colectivos Cusco-Urubamba stop or walk along San Martin and Av Tullumayo streets. If you wish, you can also
Built in the shadow of the Andes mountain range, the golden temple of the city of Cusco was the center of an empire that revolutionized urban planning in South America.
After the conquest of Cuzco, the Spaniards destroyed the Coricancha sun temple and erected a cathedral on this site, but its foundation consisted entirely of stones from the previous temple.
Thin air that makes it difficult to breathe, the tumbled boulders of the Peruvian Andes - this does not look like a great place for the capital of a rapidly expanding empire of the pre-Columbian era. To successfully exist in such conditions, any community would need great ambitions and a considerable amount of political decisions, as well as engineering ideas.
Fortunately for the Incas, they had all this in abundance, which allowed them to create, using religious faith, political will and smart decisions, the largest empire in South America on unsuitable land. When Pachacutec took the Inca throne in 1438, he set about rebuilding Cuzco according to a new street plan. This street layout has been preserved to this day.
The outline of the city was supposed to resemble a puma, with which many legends were associated. This holds a special place in Indian mythology.
Original stonework at Coricancha.
According to legend, built around 1200, the temple was built with the distinctive design and intricate stonework of the Inca style of architecture. Spanish historian Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa admires this style in his 1572 book History of the Incas: “Those of us who saw the temple were in awe of its perfection and beauty.”
Coricancha occupied a very important place in the city. Situated at the intersection of four main roads and linking four regions of the state, the temple symbolized the crucial role of religion in uniting the various cultural traditions that existed in the vast territory controlled by the Incas.
Serving as a haven for more than four thousand priests, and lost in the massifs of the Andean mountains, the Coricancha functioned as a huge calendar. The shadows cast by the stones located on top of the structure and clearly visible from the temple made it possible to keep track of the solstices and equinoxes.
The religious complex inside the building consisted of four main ones, dedicated to different gods: the moon god, the star god, the thunder god and the rainbow god. Coricancha was overflowing with gold. One of the rooms contained a giant golden disk in the shape of a sun, which reflected the sun's rays and illuminated the rest of the temple. The disk was positioned so that during the summer solstice it illuminated an inviolable place where only the emperor was allowed to sit.
The era of Pachacutec's reign was marked by numerous campaigns of conquest. By the time his successor ascended the throne, the state extended from the borders of modern Colombia to the Chilean Santiago. Effective organization of Cusco was the main key to success.
But the glory of the empire was short-lived. Power struggles and a devastating smallpox epidemic brought by European explorers in 1530 plunged the empire into chaos. The arriving Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizarro took advantage of the confusion and captured Emperor Atahualpa, despite the enormous numerical superiority of the natives.
Having paid the ransom demanded by the Spaniards for the release of the emperor, the Indians lost the gold of Caricancha. Despite the treasure they received, the Spaniards killed Atahualpa.
After the conquest of Cuzco, the Spaniards destroyed the magnificent structure. The gold plates were melted down and sent to Spain along with the temple sculptures. On the site of the temple, a Catholic cathedral was erected, the foundation of which was the stones of an Indian shrine. But he who laughs last laughs best. Centuries later, a strong earthquake completely destroyed the cathedral built by the Spaniards, leaving only the Inca foundation intact.
Today Coricancha is receiving the recognition he has long deserved. Despite the fact that modern Cusco has grown and the original outline of the city in the form of a puma can hardly be seen, the Temple of the Sun remains a wonderful place that attracts many tourists.
The Spanish cathedral was rebuilt on top of an Inca structure, and visitors are prohibited from climbing its walls. They are only allowed to roam the land where the symbol of a vanished empire once stood. Today, where the golden disk of the sun sparkled in the distant past, you can only see sunbathing tourists.
