Sacsayhuaman

Inca Garcilaso de la Vega wrote :

In the part where the mountain has a large gentle slope and where the enemies could enter the fortress, they built three walls, one after the other, on the slope, like a mountain rising ... The first wall showed the power of the Incas, and although the other two walls are no less than the first, but the first strikes with the size of the stone blocks of which it consists; one who has not seen this himself will not believe that something can be built from such stones; they are terrifying to those who consider them carefully.

In the vicinity of Sacsayhuaman, the structures of the pre-Dink period of sprat ceramics were discovered (900–1200). But there is an opinion that it is associated with the early period of the Incas themselves living here. According to legend, the construction of Cuzco under the Incas began precisely at the foot and on the slopes of Sacsayhuaman Hill ^[9] . Apparently, the stones of the original buildings are now visible in the backwash of the three largest terraces.

The tenth Inca, Tupak (Topa), Inca Yupanki (1471–1493) or his father, Pachakutek Inka Yupanki (1438–1471), began construction. Construction lasted more than 50 years and ended during the time of Wine (Vine) Kapak (1493-1525). But the full completion of construction was prevented by the ensuing period of civil wars. Four main masters sequentially directed the construction of Saksayhuaman at different times: Apu Walpa Rimachi (developed a construction plan), Inca Mari-Kanchi, Akavana Inca and Kalya Kunchui. ^[ten]

Walls

The side of the fortress, facing the city, due to its steepness, did not require serious strengthening.

The three main battlements in the form of terraces were built on the opposite gentle slope. During their construction, a very dense and strong Yukai limestone of gray color was used. ^[11] The longest of the walls has a length of about 400 m. Height - 6 m. Partially they are cut into the clay soil of the hill, and partly have a backing of clay and building residues. Defects of this design, together with unreliable soil under the base, are currently manifested in movements and structural damage. The walls have parapets, behind which warriors could take refuge, and several entrances. According to the description, the entrances were closed with lifting stones.

These walls have their own names. The first is called Tiu-punku, that is, the Sand Gate (on the surrounding soil), the second is Akavana Punku, named after the main master, the third is Viracocha Punku, as it is dedicated to the god Viracocha. ^{[12] [13]}

Interior Buildings

At the top was a complex of buildings with windows facing the city and three towers. They were erected from rectangular blocks of greenish-gray diorite - porphyry from Mount Sacsayhuaman. The first of the towers is Mojok Mark (Mujuk Mark), that is, the Round Fortress. Its foundation consists of three concentric walls, and the diameter below is 75 feet (22 m). It belonged to Inka and his court. Its walls were covered with gold and silver images of animals, birds and plants. There were the same things as in other palaces of the city. There was a water tank in the tower, to which water from a distant, plentiful source with good water was supplied through underground waterways.

The two smaller towers were rectangular. These are Salya Marka (Kaklak Marka) and Paukar Marka. Salya Marka stood on a basement of 65 feet (19 m) and consisted of five floors with steps inside. In these towers there were rooms for accommodating selected soldiers of the garrison, which should be only Incas. They did not live there permanently, but succeeded each other. The cellars of the towers were connected by tunnels, which were blocked by stone beams. The network of tunnels was branched and served as a warehouse, including for military equipment. Warehouses were also two groups of small premises located in the southeastern part of the complex. However, it should be borne in mind that in ancient descriptions there is sometimes confusion in the order of arrangement of objects and their purpose.

In general, the fortress was so huge that it could, if necessary, accommodate the entire population of Cuzco. ^[14]

Only the Incas could enter the territory of the complex, since it was considered the house of the Sun, the house of weapons and war. Accordingly, there was a hierarchical structure that governed the entire economy, headed by the legitimate Inca of royal blood. ^[15]

For its intended purpose, the fortress was used during the Manco Inca Yupanka uprising in 1536. Juan Pizarro was killed during one of the assaults on this strategically important point. ^[sixteen]

The Spaniards turned the fortress into a quarry ; houses in Cuzco were built from its stone. The smallest blocks from the main walls were blown away. And the upper structures were dismantled almost completely, including the overlap of the dungeons. ^[17]

Already in our time, most of the voids in the main walls were laid with small stones.

In 1983, Sacsayhuaman, as part of the city of Cuzco, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List .

Now in Sacsayhuaman on June 24, Inti Raimi (Festival of the Sun) is celebrated, a winter solstice festival that attracts thousands of Peruvians, Bolivians, Ecuadorians, as well as foreign tourists.

• Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. History of the Inca State / Per. with the old - L .: "Science", Leningrad Branch, 1974. - 747 p. - S. 445, 489-498. - (Series “Literary Monuments”).
• Hagen V. von. Aztecs, Mayans, Incas. Great kingdoms of ancient America / Transl. from English - M.: Tsentrpoligraf, 2008 .-- 539 p. - S. 461-463. - ISBN 978-5-9524-3839-2 .
• Hemming D. Conquest of the Inca Empire. The curse of a vanished civilization / Per. from English - M.: Tsentrpoligraf, 2003 .-- 558 p. - S. 123, 200-207. - ISBN 5-9524-0200-3 .
• Hildebrando Fuentes. El Cusco y sus Ruinas. Tanahuantinsuyoc kapacllacta. - Lima, 1905.