The Temple of the Sun, also known as Inti Watana, is one of the fascinating structures located within the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Peru. Due to its importance and function in the Inca Empire of Tahuantinsuyo, it is one of the most mysterious constructions of the ruins of the citadel of Machu Picchu. Here we will present in detail the knowledge of this important temple up to the present:
What is the Temple of the Sun?
The Temple of the Sun is a room built on top of a natural cave. Due to its elevated position and exquisite carvings, it is considered a religious construction whose main function would be to worship the sun.
It is the only Inca construction with a circular shape; This construction has windows, walls and entrance doors. According to some records of chroniclers, the Inca Pachacuteq who would have ordered the construction of the citadel of Machu Picchu was buried there.
The temple was built with granite blocks and belongs to the Imperial Inca style. Before the Spanish invasion, it was decorated with gold and silver ornaments. These were looted in later years (certain cracks can still be seen to demonstrate the existence of decorations inside).
Where is the Temple of the Sun located?
This temple is located in one of the most important areas of Machu Picchu, it is located in the religious sector, specifically in the Hannan sector.
To get there, it is only necessary to follow the marked route, inside Machu Picchu.
Currently, the Temple of the Sun can only be appreciated from the perspective of the top of the building. For protection reasons, it is impossible to enter the temple.
What function did this temple have?
As we indicated before, the main function of the temple of the Sun was to pay homage and give offerings to the sun god. In the lower part, a cave was found which could have been used as a tomb or mausoleum.
This temple is an astronomical observatory, where the arrival of the solstice and the changes of seasons can be accurately determined (due to the strategic location of the windows).
In the center of the temple, there is an altar carved into the rock, where religious ceremonies in honor of the sun god would have probably been held. During the summer solstice sunrise, the two windows cast shadows on the central altar of the temple.
How was the construction of the Temple of the Sun?
The temple was built with granite blocks, which belong to the royal Inca style (time of the Inca Pachacutec). The site can be accessed through double door trapezoidal doors. It also has a straight wall and a semicircular wall, with two windows, one facing north and the other facing east.
The structure is built on top of a natural cave. Its walls are made of irregular stones. However, the perfect curvature of one of the walls is 10 meters.
The temple is connected to a huge rock above the natural cave. On the back wall, you can see a window with small holes, which may contain precious stones. This window is called a “snake window.”
What mysteries does this temple hide?
The connection between the Temple of the Sun and the Royal Tomb indicates that Inca Pachakatec was buried inside. This tomb must be decorated with gold and silver ornaments, which were looted during the Spanish invasion.
In the royal tombs, you can find exquisite stone walls, life-size trapezoidal walls and flower beds carved in the form of three-step stairs, representing the famous “Chakana” (Inca trilogy, meaning Inca Worldview of Hanan Pacha) the world of the gods), Kai Pacha (the world of the living) and Uku Pacha (the world of the dead).
What are the visiting hours?
Tickets for Machu Picchu offer different entry times: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 1 and 2 in the afternoon. After entering, each tourist has 4 hours to visit the entire tourist route, including the Temple of the Sun.
During the visit of Machu Picchu (Machu Picchu), you can visit the Temple of the Sun every day of the year: from 6 am to 5 pm.
Was the Temple of the Sun burned down?
Certain buildings of the Temple of the Sun were cracked by fire hundreds of years ago. Although there is no clear clue in this regard, it can be thought that this was caused by the Spanish invaders, who tried to colonize the few inhabitants who lived in Machu Picchu. Another hypothesis suggests that the Inca soldiers who supported the insurgency were the cause of the fire.
Despite the fire, the stone structure of the Temple of the Sun was not damaged.
Can I enter the Temple of the Sun?
There is currently no access to the interior of the Temple of the Sun, and the only way to observe the site is through the viewpoint at the top of the archaeological site.
Another way to visit the Temple of the Sun is from the perspective of the Temple of the Eagles. From there you can also see the royal tombs, but you can’t go inside.
With which ticket to visit this temple?
Although it is possible to visit the Temple of the Sun through any entrance to Machu Picchu, most tourists decide to buy tickets for “Machu Picchu Solo”, which includes tours to the Temple of the Sun and other tourist routes.
The ‘Machu Picchu Solo’ ticket can be purchased online or in the city of Cusco itself.
In addition to the entrance, it is best to have an official tour guide who explains the details of the Temple of the Sun in Machu Picchu in the same Inca city. You can rent a guide at the entrance of Machu Picchu.
Temple of the Sun Machu Picchu Architecture
The temple is located in the most important area of Machu Picchu, near “Hana Pacha”, which is a large-scale and unique religious site. The structure of the Temple of the Sun is perfectly assembled with granite blocks on a huge solid rock to form a natural cave. Its semicircular wall is precisely curved by 10.5m, giving it a unique and charming look.
In the center of the temple is a finely carved stone altar that is used for various rituals and sacrifices to the sun. To enter the temple you have to go through a huge door built with double beams, which previously had a locking mechanism for your protection and safety, and on the top of the door there is a special design of carved snakes.
The building has two trapezoidal windows facing north and east. One of the windows has a small hole carved in it that allows direct sunlight to enter.
Sun Temple
It is also known as “Circular Tower” or “Royal Tomb”. The portal can be accessed, which has a security system with a stone ring.
The temple, with a diameter of 10.5 meters, was built on a huge rock. It is semicircular with finely carved bricks, and the rear wall is straight.
It is believed that it is a mausoleum with mummies lying on its great wall.
It is used in ceremonies related to the June solstice. One of its windows shows traces of incrustations that were torn off in the history of Machu Picchu, destroying part of its structure. There are signs of fire.
Astrnomical Alignments
The window shown in red (No. 1) is the largest of the three windows in the tower. Because Bingham found a poisonous snake inside it, it is called the “snake window.”
It is oriented to NNW with an azimuth angle of 340 degrees. During the winter solstice, at sunrise, the stars can be seen behind the tail of the Big Dipper, arranged in the shape of a curved serpentine.
We identified the orange window #2 oriented towards the northeast corner with an azimuth angle of about 65 degrees, which coincides with the sunrise during the winter solstice. That day, the first ray of the sun cast its beam on the rock carved into the ground. A few hours ago, the Pleiades and the Hyades could be seen. Its bright red star Aldebaran is expected to have the sun.
Through the third window (yellow no. 3) (blue line 2) located at an azimuthal angle of about 132 degrees to the southeast, the tail part of the western constellation of the scorpion can be seen. Its shape is similar to the design of the turret.
As for the altar or the rock on the ground that casts the shadow of the sun at the winter solstice, there are many versions, most of which point to it as a symbol of the three Andean worlds, and others represent it as a sacred puma.
Walls
“The bottom steps, especially the big blocks, make the wall look strong. The elevation of the top reduces its size, adding elegance and sophistication to the structure. The beauty of the lines, the symmetrical arrangement of the blocks and the structure are combined with each other. It produces a wonderful effect, softer and more pleasant than the marble temples of the old world; because there is no mixing, no unsightly gaps between these blocks, they seem to have grown to the beauty of white granite, this structure’s appeal surpasses the best walls in Cuzco, which has awed travelers for four centuries.
Hiram Bingham in “The Lost City of the Incas.”
