AP+The+Maria+Angola+Cathedral,+Tahuantinsuyo,+Basila+of+San+Blas

The Maria Angola Cathedral (Maria Angola Bell) Shelby Archuleta

• The Maria Angola Cathedral in Cusco, Peru is referred today as the Cathedral de Santo Domingo or the Cusco Cathedral. The Cathedral, built in 1559, stands in the Plaza de Armas – as shown above. The most prominent part of this cathedral is the Maria Angola Bell. This bell was made in 1659, 100 years after the building of the Cathedral. The bell stands 2.15 meters and weighs about 5980 kilograms. The name of the bell came from a “local tradition… after an Angolan slave who threw gold into the crucible where the bell was being made” (The Incas). However, according to Kokotovic, the name of the bell came from the women who donated one hundred pounds of gold for the construction of the bell. In any case, the bell became a symbol for this Peruvian town. In some ways it can be seen as a symbol of the Catholic Church and the “Western domination of the Andean society” (Kokotovic). To others however, this bell is a symbol of “light in the dark”. It is said that because of the gold in the bell, in Incan tradition, it helped light up the sun. It gives people hope of old traditions. Since the bell is cracked it is only rung on certain occasions to help this reminder and can supposedly be heard 20 miles away in each direction.

Works Cited: “Cathedral of Cusco, Bell”. Incas.homestead.com. The Incas, n.d. Web. 10 Jan 2011.

Kokotovic, Misha. The Colonial Divide in Peruvian Narrative: Social Conflict and Transculturation. Portland Oregon: Sussex Academic Press, 2005. Print.

(Used only as point of reference) “Cathedral of Santo Domingo, Cusco.” Wikipedia.com. Wikipedia, 2 January 2011. 10 Jan 2011

Tahuantinsuyo
Justine Evans

[[image:tahuantinsuyo.gif width="134" height="206" align="right"]]
Definition: Tahuantinsuyo is what the Incas or the Quechuas called their native land (which is now known as the Inca Empire). According to the online exploration website of Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the natives called the land Tahuantinsuyo when their empire “reached its peak between the 1430’s and 1530’s” (Inca Rulers). The Inca Empire or Tahuantinsuyo “began around 1200 AD” (Inca Empire) and was the largest empire to exist on the American continent. Tahuantinsuyo is derived from two quechua words, which combined, mean 'Four regions.' Enjoy Corporation's Travel Agency in Peru explains that “tahua or tawa means a group of four elements and suyo means region" (Enjoy Corp). The four major elements consisted of: Chinchasuyu, Antisuyu, Contisuyu and Collasuyu. Cusco was the geographical center where each region met.

﻿﻿Works Cited  "History of the Inca Empire or Tahuantinsuyo.” Machu Picchu. Web. 9 Jan. 2011.  "The Inca Empire (Tahuantinsuyo): History, Culture, Events." Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley of the Incas! Explore, Discover, Travel, Learn! Web. 10 Jan. 2011.  "The Inca Rulers - The Leaders of the Tahuantinsuyo (Inca Empire)." Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley of the Incas! Explore, Discover, Travel, Learn! Web. 10 Jan. 2011.  "The Tahuantinsuyo." Inkas Cusco Travel Agency Peru. Web. 11 Jan. 2011.

 **Basilica of San Blas** by:Lexus Barrios (Jack) Basilica (architecturally) From the online Catholic Encyclopedia written by Gietmann, Cerhard and Herbert Thurston the term Basilica architecturally signifies, "a kingly and beautiful hall"(Thurston, Gietmann, Cerhard, and Herbert).A typical shape of a basilica is a parallelogram with a width no greater than ½ but no less than 1/3 of the length. The middle of a basilica was divided by columns from a lower ambulatory. Other columns stood to allow light and create the illusion of tapering upwards. Christians use basilicas as a place of worship. It was until the 5th century that round or square side towers were used after first introduced in the main building in Syria.
 * Definition **

Basilica (canonical) However, Basilica has more than one definition, from the same Catholic Encyclopedia, a Basilica is also,"a title used by canon lawyers and liturgist (religious worshipers), assigned by formal gesture or ancient customs to certain valued Churches" (Thurston, Gietmann, Cerhard, and Herbert).

**Significance of Basilica of San Blas**  Basilica of San Blas (Saint Blaise) is located in the neighborhood San Blas of Cusco, Peru. The Basilica (church) has a simple architectural style, made of adobe with few details on the outside. Although view as plain and simple from outward appearance, it is what is on the inside of the Basilica San Blas,that it is famous. The article "Churches of Cusco" by a language courses aboard website give details of the famous Basilica (church) of San Blas," Inside contains the famous “Púlpito de San Blas” (Pulpit of San Blas), also known as the triumphant figure of Christ ,carved out of a single piece of cedar. The pulpit includes a balcony (basin) a thorax (main body), a sound board (cupola) and a gallery (entrance). Within the basin there are 8 bust that represent the heretics of Catholicism. Engraved in the Thorax is the saint of San Blas. The Sound Board is decorated with Saints and the pulpit is crowned by a sculpture of Saint Paul with a crucifix supported by archangels" (Churches of Cusco). **Work Cited** "Churches of Cusco." Language Courses Abroad. StudyLanguages.org, 2005. Web. 10 Jan. 2011. <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jack. South Side of San Blas Church on the Square. 2005. Photograph. Cusco. Sacred Destinations. 2005. Web. 10 Jan. 2011. <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thurston, Gietmann, Gerhard, and Herbert. "Catholic Encyclopedia: Basilica." NEW ADVENT: Home. Web. 10 Jan. 2011.