2015-01-14

The Walls of Saqsaywaman in Peru

Sacsayhuamán, Saqsaywaman, also known as Saksaq Waman, is a walled complex located on the northern slopes of the city of Cusco. It is often described as a fortress since it is enclosed by three slopes and has a series of parallel walls that zigzag and would expose the flanks of invaders. However, archaeologists are unsure of the purpose of Sacsayhuaman, and it's possible that it may have been a temple devoted to the worship of the sun or used to form the head of the Puma that Sacsayhuaman and Cusco make when viewed from above.

Sacsayhuamán also known as Saksaq Waman, is a walled complex located on the northern slopes of the city of Cusco. It is often described as a fortress since it is enclosed by three slopes and has a series of parallel walls that zigzag and would expose the flanks of invaders.
At the top of this hill there is one of the greatest monuments of ancient Peruvian architecture. The site, at an altitude of 3,701 m, was added as part of the city of Cusco to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983. The three zigzag walls, located one after another, fringe the slope of the hill and form the central part of this archaeological monument. The length of each of the walls reaches 350 m. Their height varies from 4 to 5 metres (for the bottom wall) and up to 3 metres (for the top wall). Each of them has more than 20 prominent «bastions», which add to the zigzag shape of the walls. 

Each of the walls has one or two passages to the next level. The walls are composed of large, thoroughly processed blocks of the so-called grey Yucay limestone. The lower wall consists of the largest blocks, which have a height of 2-3 metres and the weight of dozens of tonnes. The weight of the biggest block amounts to 360 tonnes, while its height is 8.4 metres. The blocks have a different shape, but despite this, they are fit together with unbelievable precision. It’s impossible to squeeze even a knife’s blade between them. The walls are made without any mortar, but with the help of a technology that is now called polygonal masonry. 

Many of the bulges are sophisticatedly carved so as to match the shape of the adjacent boulders. This way, the blocks are fit together just like the elements of a puzzle. Engineers believe that this type of masonry provided the maximum stability and safety of the construction in such an earthquake-endangered zone as the valley of Cusco. It is still unclear whether the structure was a military fortress, storage, or even a meeting place. It is certainly the most important archaeological site inherited from the Incas, a sample of the magnificent architecture and engineering used in our times; we do not understand how they managed this perfect technique.

First Image credit: arjunalistened
Sacsayhuamán also known as Saksaq Waman, is a walled complex located on the northern slopes of the city of Cusco. It is often described as a fortress since it is enclosed by three slopes and has a series of parallel walls that zigzag and would expose the flanks of invaders.
Image credit: Kathy Adams Clark

Sacsayhuamán also known as Saksaq Waman, is a walled complex located on the northern slopes of the city of Cusco. It is often described as a fortress since it is enclosed by three slopes and has a series of parallel walls that zigzag and would expose the flanks of invaders.
Image credit: Richard Droker

Sacsayhuamán also known as Saksaq Waman, is a walled complex located on the northern slopes of the city of Cusco. It is often described as a fortress since it is enclosed by three slopes and has a series of parallel walls that zigzag and would expose the flanks of invaders.
Image credit: dachalan

Sacsayhuamán also known as Saksaq Waman, is a walled complex located on the northern slopes of the city of Cusco. It is often described as a fortress since it is enclosed by three slopes and has a series of parallel walls that zigzag and would expose the flanks of invaders.
Image credit: arjunalistened

Sacsayhuamán also known as Saksaq Waman, is a walled complex located on the northern slopes of the city of Cusco. It is often described as a fortress since it is enclosed by three slopes and has a series of parallel walls that zigzag and would expose the flanks of invaders.
Image credit: Pedro Szekely

Sacsayhuamán also known as Saksaq Waman, is a walled complex located on the northern slopes of the city of Cusco. It is often described as a fortress since it is enclosed by three slopes and has a series of parallel walls that zigzag and would expose the flanks of invaders.
Image credit: Becky Lai

Sacsayhuamán also known as Saksaq Waman, is a walled complex located on the northern slopes of the city of Cusco. It is often described as a fortress since it is enclosed by three slopes and has a series of parallel walls that zigzag and would expose the flanks of invaders.
Image credit: zug55

Sacsayhuamán also known as Saksaq Waman, is a walled complex located on the northern slopes of the city of Cusco. It is often described as a fortress since it is enclosed by three slopes and has a series of parallel walls that zigzag and would expose the flanks of invaders.
Image credit: David Farrant

Sacsayhuamán also known as Saksaq Waman, is a walled complex located on the northern slopes of the city of Cusco. It is often described as a fortress since it is enclosed by three slopes and has a series of parallel walls that zigzag and would expose the flanks of invaders.
Image credit: Tyler Bell

Sacsayhuamán also known as Saksaq Waman, is a walled complex located on the northern slopes of the city of Cusco. It is often described as a fortress since it is enclosed by three slopes and has a series of parallel walls that zigzag and would expose the flanks of invaders.
Image credit: arjunalistened

Source — Arcanafactor | Wikipedia
- January 14, 2015
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Location: Saqsaywaman, Cusco, Peru

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