Saqsaywaman and travels to Ollantaytambo

Yesterday was our last full day in Cusco until we return from Machu Picchu. A part of me wishes we would have had more free time and also spent more time here rather than in Lima. Cusco contains so much history, and has been a lot more interesting for me. I think everyone can agree that the views and atmosphere is more likable here rather than in Lima.

Early yesterday morning, we visited the ruins of Saqsayhuaman. This particular site was composed of mostly stone walls and troughs that the Incas used for methods of irrigation. Altogether, the walls were of a rectilinear alignment, but within them included different shapes such as pentagons and other polygons. Some of the walls were consistent, while others had different sizes of stone layered on top of one another.  Some particular walls at the top of the mountain were not as straight and as clean, which is normally a characteristic of Incan architecture. Throughout these ruins, the  consistency of bricks and straightness sometimes would change. In the view from below, I noticed that the stone walls were lined up at a diagonal slope. It was very incredible to see how the Incas mastered their stone work, and to see their advanced architectural skills. 

                     

Some of the stones we observed had indentations in them, which were most likely used in the process of building these walls. These rocks were possibly used to pull up and hoister the rocks at the top while it was being constructed. Some of these grooves were curved inside, while some others intruded out. Both of these could have been used for several other things during their construction process.

       One observation that was a main part of Incan architecture was the alignment of walls, doors, and irrigation troughs to the East and West.  This clearly demonstrates that the Incas used the solstice alignment as a huge part of their architecture, and that their solstice rituals were of great importance to the Incas. Another observation that was similar was the reappearance of the trapezoidal niches.  The trapezoidal doorways were often called a “ceremonial niche”, which was thought to be used to preserve an important religious object or image.  We noticed that these would also have been aligned so that the sun would com e straight through as it was setting and rising.

                     

      Our traveling day has consisted of a rough bus ride, but with absolutely striking views of the mountains as we made our way to Ollantaytambo. The views from our hostel and the small square located in this town are just beautiful. I will definitely get the most out of our 4 days here. 
          

http://www.ollantaytambo.org/en/

http://www.ancient-wisdom.co.uk/perusacsahuaman.htm