Machu Picchu: Exploring an Ancient Sacred CenterMachu Picchu, recently voted one of the New Wonders of the World, is one of the world's most famous archaeological sites, yet it remains a mystery. Even the most basic questions are still unanswered: What was its meaning and why was it built in such a difficult location? Renowned explorer Johan Reinhard attempts to answer such elusive questions from the perspectives of sacred landscape and archaeoastronomy. Using information gathered from historical, archaeological, and ethnographical sources, Reinhard demonstrates how the site is situated in the center of sacred mountains and associated with a sacred river, which is in turn symbolically linked with the sun's passage. Taken together, these features meant that Machu Picchu formed a cosmological, hydrological, and sacred geological center for a vast region. |
Contents
Chapter Two Sacred Geography and Cosmology at Machu Picchu | 18 |
Chapter Three Architecture and Sacred Landscape | 54 |
Chapter Four Further Sites in the Region | 98 |
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alignment Andean Aobamba archaeological associated Astete Ausangate Bingham camelids cardinal directions caves celestial ceque Cerro San Miguel Cobo coca current-day beliefs Cuzco Cuzco region December solstice Duviols Gow and Condori Guaman Poma 1956 highest summit Huanacauri Huayna Picchu Illapa important Inca emperor Inca Empire Inca sites Inca Trail Intihuatana June solstice Lake Titicaca Llaktapata llamas Llullaillaco located Machu Picchu Figure Machu Picchu Mountain MacLean Milky mountain deities mountain gods mountain worship Nuñez del Prado Ollantaytambo Pachacuti Palcay peaks personal communication 1989 Peru Phuyupatamarka pilgrimage platform Principal Temple Pumasillo Quechua Reinhard religious ridge ritual specialist role Rowe ruins Runcu Runcu Raccay Sacred Center sacred geographical features sacred geography sacred landscape sacred mountains sacred places Sacred Plaza Salcantay Sayacmarca seen Sherbondy snowcapped mountain Southern Cross Spanish structures Urton Urubamba River usnu Valencia Veronica Vilcabamba Vilcabamba region Vilcanota River Viracocha Vitcos Wiñay Wayna Yanantin Zuidema