Sascahuaman

9) Sascahuaman by Haley Stamper

Aim: Saqsaywaman was built as a place of worship for the Inca people. It is called Saqsaywaman a blend of the Quechua word Saqsay meaning to be satisfied and waman meaning falcon; the falcon being the protector of the first Inca Manco Cápac ( Saqsaywaman ). This makes sense as Saqsaywaman was a Royal House of the Sun, a place to relax and worship the gods, most specifically the sun ( Saqsaywaman ). While the spanish conquerors thought Saqsaywaman to be a fortress the Inca people faced no real threats at the time so the placement and ability to see the surrounding area must have served this other purpose ( Saqsaywaman ). Other Inca religious elements were incorporated in the design, including “divine interactions” (World-Mysteries) such as the three walls relating to the importance of the number three for the Quechuas (World-Mysteries). All aspects of Saqsaywaman, including its name and design point to the purpose of it being a holy place for the Inca people.

Audience: Saqsaywaman was built as a holy place for the Inca people but has had impacts on the Spanish conquerors and today’s people as well. Saqsaywaman was both a work of architectural ingenuity and a Royal House of the Sun, meaning it was a place to worship the Sun and other minor gods (Saqsaywaman). However, when the Spanish came they were so amazed by how well the stones fit together even without mortar that they said it must be the work of demons (World-Mysteries). However, this did not stop them from charging a small fee so that settlers might use the stones to build their homes ( Saqsaywaman). Today’s people are also amazed by the stone work and think people so ‘primitive’ would have been unable to create such a thing and so a few claim it was the work of aliens (World-Mysteries). Many tourists come to see the wonder that is Saqsaywaman, most especially when a festival, such as Inti Raymi, is being held there (Inti Raymi). Saqsaywaman has always been a place of wonder but for the ancient Inca people and their descendants it is also a place of spirituality.

Historical: Saqsaywaman is an impressive feat of masonry made by the Inca people that has influenced the people of the region for a long time. It is called Saqsaywaman a blend of the Quechua word Saqsay meaning to be satisfied and waman meaning falcon; the falcon being the protector of the first Inca Manco Cápac (Saqsaywaman). Its construction took more than seven decades and about 20,000 men. How the stones fit together so well without mortar is still a mystery and so astounded the Spanish Conquerors who with their religious fanaticism thought it was the work of demons (World-Mysteries). The Spanish thought that due to its size and might as well as the placement with its ability to see all of the surrounding area made Saqsaywaman a fortress. However, it was a Royal House of the Sun, meaning it was a place to worship the Sun and other minor gods (Saqsaywaman). Other aspects of their religion were also taken into account when building Saqsaywaman. For example, combined with Cusco and other buildings in the region the Inca people made the shape of a puma, symbolizing the Inca dynasty, and the three walls reflect the importance of the number three to the Inca people. Through the last four hundred years however Saqsaywaman has slowly been destroyed through a siege and through stones being taken to assist settlers in the building of their homes (Saqsaywaman) yet it still stands strong and amazes tourists who see it.

Cultural: Historically, Saqsaywaman was a place of worship for the Inca and a source of wonder for all people. However, today Saqsaywaman is also a tie to the past and proof of human ingenuity. Saqsaywaman consists of three walls made from giant stones sitting upon each other so perfectly they don’t even need mortar to hold the odd shapes in place (World-Mysteries). Today, people come to Saqsaywaman to be amazed by such an amazing feat of masonry and wonder how it was done. Saqsaywaman is also a site of festivals in Cusco, such as Inti Raymi. Inti Raymi is an Inca holiday also known as the New Year of the Sun that the descendants of the ancient Inca people never stopped practicing even when they had to do it in secret for fear of the Spanish (Inti Raymi). In these ways Saqsaywaman serves as a tie to the past and the strength of previous generations for the people of today.

__ Works Cited: __ "Inti Raymi." //Cuscoperu.com//. Web. 19 Feb. 2015. "Mystic Places: Sacsayhuaman." //World-Mysteries.com//. Web. 19 Feb. 2015. “Saqsaywaman.” //Cusco-peru.org//. Web. 20 Feb. 2015.