|
Not far from Cusco there is a hill they call the Temple of the Moon. The hill
has several caves and many rock carvings. Some of the carvings here show extreme
weathering.
Notice the horizontal bar near the center of the photograph.
For lack of a
better word, we'll call it a "bench."
© 2003-2004 by Richard Nisbet
Two close shots of the "bench." Notice the rounded edges and general
appearance of aging. Some think this carving was made before the last glacier
carved it's way through here thousands of years ago.
Two close shots of the "bench." © 2003-2004 by Richard Nisbet
A RANGE OF WEATHERING EFFECTS ON HUACAS NEAR CUZCO
The so-called "Seat of the Inca" across from Sacsahuaman
on Rodadero Hill. The surfaces are perfectly flat , the angles
are straight and sharp.
© 2003-2004 by Richard Nisbet
The following photos are all in a small area beyond the "Temple of the Moon"
a short distance from Cusco. (All images are © 2003-2004 by Richard Nisbet)
Detail from the previous shot.
Detail from the previous shot. It appears to be a bifurcated funnel
to an interior aquaduct where may have flowed sacrificial blood or
brew. (Their brew was called Chicha and they drank it to staggering
and vomiting excess. They also offered no small amount of it to
the dieties.)
Were these "seats" carved before or after
the stone was so weathered?
What are the striations at the top of this seat?
Why is there a big hole in the middle of it?
This carving, atop the mound called "The Temple of the Moon"
is an unlikely place for a toilet.
These steps are so weathered that the stone looks like clay.
Serpent in stone
All of these carvings were not part of the official Inca religion. Some
were personal, familial. If a departed relative loved to sit on a
particular rock while he was living, his family might carve a seat there
as a memorial. That "They don't make 'em like that anymore" is obvious. As
a matter of fact, they apparently have no idea how to make them anymore.
>>>
Continue: Ollantaytambo >>
The Ancient Walls - Main Page
|
Sacsahuaman | Cusco |
Stone Carvings |
Temple of the Moon
| Ollantaytambo | Machu Picchu
Speculations | About the Author
| Related Resources (links and
books)
Copyright © 2003-2004 by Richard Nisbet
All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with Permission
|
