The Temple of Wiraqocha

To those who share my enthusiasm about Incas and Pre-columbian cultures :

Another amazing structure, Raqchi, better known as "The Temple Of Wiraqocha". This incredible place is located in Puno, Peru. Just take a look at the size of these walls.







I'll limit my own comments and offer a plain translation of the source :

Continuing the route to the east of the city of Puno, at km 125 is the town of Raqchi belonging to the district of San Pedro de Cacha Canchis province. Raqchi is on the right bank of the Vilcanota River, at an altitude of 3500 mts. (11500 feet). Apparently pre-Hispanic name was "Cacha" and not "Raqchi". Evidence indicates that people Raqchi was a multi-building complex, including the terraces of cultivation for different purposes, "kanchas" (apartments), "wayranas" (buildings having only 3 walls), "qolqas" (storehouses), different polls , religious water sources, etc.. Possibly, it was a "tambo" major en route to the "Collasuyo". The most important building within the complex is the "Temple of Wiraqocha", which the old chroniclers was built by the Inca Wiraqocha in homage to the Superior Invisible God of Andean people: "Apu Kon Titi Wiraqocha". Pedro Cieza de Leon collected the tradition that the urn was built after the appearance of a man who started performing miracles in this place, and the villagers had decided to stone him to death, but to go for that man stranger found kneeling with arms outstretched and immediately after a rain of fire. Thus, these men sorry they let him go, this strange man had gone to the coast and plunged into the ocean and disappeared forever. After this he built a shrine in his memory and a sculpture of a stone idol of some conquistadores as they saw it, was the image of a Christian apostle that passed through these lands. Involving the rain of fire, may be referred to some eruption of the volcano "Kinsach'ata" now extinct was found for these environments, around the area there are a lot of dry lava (volcanic stone). The "Temple of Wiraqocha" is a grandiose construction for its era. Architecturally it is classified as "kallanka" that is, a large building completely covered with straw (wood and "bunch grass"), 92 m measured externally. (302 feet) long and 25.25 m. (83 feet) wide. Its central wall was made of finely carved stone base has a height about 3 m. adobe (earth bricks with straw dried by the sun) the walls are 1.65 m. thickness at the base and 1.30 m. approximately the top. Today the wall is 12 m. height and a century ago, was 15 m. and as a hypothetical reconstruction Agurto originally made by James must have had 16.60 m. Its side walls were 1.20 m. thick and 3 m. height. The roof was impressive with nearly 2500 square meters and an inclination of approximately 50 ° slope. There were round columns that are still in the bases between the central and the side wall to support the roof, these columns were 1.60 m. in diameter and approximately 9.80 m. height. There are some other very important sectors with the remains of "wayranas" and a lot of "qolqas" with walls of type "pirka" on this site.

Also found a video,



www.inkascusco.com...
www.ecotravelperu.com...
www.viajeros.com...

great post !

imagine what that place looked like when it was built. amazing!!

A very nice example of Inca use of a central wall to form the support for ceiling and a mix of adobe and stone

Reconstruction of what the temple might have looked like



Other sources of information on Temple of Viracocha


Temple design

An old classic study

First page only study of the temple of Viracocha

Another study but again you need access to a university library

reply to post by Hanslune


Excellent info, thanks for your support.

Originally posted by spaceg0at
great post !

imagine what that place looked like when it was built. amazing!!

Thanks to Hanslune pic posted, we can have an idea.

Great discovery mate, I did not know of this place... Very similar to the great Egyptian temple at Luxor with the pillars and gigantic walls.

looks to me it was built for defensive purposses
not sure water corrosion at the bottonm and the slots for arrow or spear holes
i may be wrong

reply to post by Eniii


Yes the reconstruction does go for that 'big hall' effect as at Luxor

Just found more info (english) and pleny of photos :

www.delange.org...

Originally posted by Hanslune
A very nice example of Inca use of a central wall to form the support for ceiling and a mix of adobe and stone

Reconstruction of what the temple might have looked like

Other sources of information on Temple of Viracocha


Temple design

An old classic study

First page only study of the temple of Viracocha

Another study but again you need access to a university library

edit on 28/2/12 by Hanslune because: (no reason given)

I'm not buying this reconstruction pic
it takes away the little 'roof things" and fills in the gaps between the upright wall structures'
as though they aren't there

I'm wondering what fit in these notched gaps?

this reconstruction doesn't fit what what I'm seeing

your links do not deal with this site?