Mystified by the people of the Tahuantinsuyo...

Once again, it is late, and I am rambling. Lately I have not felt much effects of altitude, but that nonetheless does not change this monologue of mine into something that is not rambling. I am mystified and in awe of the past peoples of the Tahuantinsuyo empire, the Inka. Having visited the remains of the still splendid Quri Kancha, my admiration for the Inka grew exponentially. Their understanding and interest in cosmology bewildered and fascinated me. The temple of thunder, of the moon, and of the rainbow in their partial grandeur emanated an aura of power and demanded respect.

From, the Quri kancha, the place of origin of the ceques (lines) we headed to visit the few remaining huacas (sacred places), laying on the periphery of Qosqo. Here my marvel of the masonry of the Inka grew with every sight and step. I was mesmerized by the way these people carved solid giant stones, with a grace and subtlety that made them so special to my eyes. Every huaca, I soon found out, had its many cosmological orientations and significance. The Incas were obsessed with carving stone whether great or small, finding ideological and cosmological significance in prominent landscape features, and associating and aligning them with celestial bodies. These people were way over my head, and I look forward to the next years when new things are discovered and explained regarding these sights and new archaeological theories are put forward as to the significance of these sacred places and the places within them.


Saqsaywaman. Yes, it is the place were fabled Inca masonry is at its most gargantuan and mind-boggling apogee. How about standing in front of a megalith that is 9 meters high, weighs from 120 to 200 tonnes and is deliciously and impeccably fit with its surrounding stones, in such a way that barely the tip of a knife can fit in the joint. More than that, not only is this structure impressive as it is, but only around 20-30% of the original complex survives to this day. To top this off, the mammoth stones lean slightly inward, and are fitted together and interlocked, out of sight, in such a manner that they are earthquake resistant, and their perfect state (outside of human destruction) is a testimony to this. How these people chiseled to perfection and maneuvered such immense objects mystifies me, and certainly will continue to mystify random bypasses for the years to come.

On the top of the complex, that possibly had a ceremonial and/or defensive purpose there are three concentric stone rings. Recent studies point toward the possibility that this was a great astronomical observatory, where the knowledgeable Incas would star-gaze, and forecast climatic phenomena, set important ceremonial dates, and further their knowledge, understanding and reverence for the universe and its celestial bodies. Although it was cold, and my jacket was proving incapable of halting the chilling effects of the growing gusts of wind, I would have gladly roamed around , and further marveled at this incredible, to say the least, Inca complex.

-Konrad