Pisac – Day 8 The Inca Cross
Learned the past tense today. It took us a whole year in highschool to learn this stuff, things move fast here in Peru. This afternoon we took the minibus up a road that would most certainly be condemned in the US. It was paved, once upon a time and there were huge chucks of fallen rock the driver just avoided. No nets to catch them like you see in Colorado or Arizona. We were dropped off at the ruins of an old city. There were different sections, agriculture, animals, etc and they traded their goods amongst each other for commerce. In the center was the royal compound. One house was for the most beautiful women in the city who were offered up to the Sun God and they got to spend their life alone, on the highest plateau as an offering to the Dios del Sol. (I will reserve comment on this)
In the middle is an ancient sundial of sorts. This is one of the few surviving as the Spanish invaders destoyed most of them through the Inca kingdom. On the 21st of June, the sun hits a certain point and casts a shadow on a pointed stone to complete its other half, forming the Inca cross. The middle of the cross is a circle which represents the centre of the kingdom, Cusco, the points are the other cities. The Inca culture uses symbols in threes the Eagle, Puma, Snake as guardians, past present future etc. alot of symbolism in their religion. The dial was to tell the seasons so they knew when to plant the crop etc.
It reminded me of Knowth, Ireland or Newgrange where also there was an intricate buidling constructed for the same purpose, for the light to reach a chamber only on the equinox.
We hiked down for about 1.5 hours and let me justsay, I am glad we were going down and not up with the steep steps. We passed native children bouncing up from school to get home. There was a woman we saw twice selling water in two different sections then she popped up selling textile woven belts on a terrace far away. There are many tunnels in the mountains and I am betting the locals still know them. We passed a lovely waterfall to end up again at the market.
The culture of Peru permeates you at every corner. The women are weaving or making the textiles in the stalls so ´when they tell you ´hand made´there is no a doubt. There are DVDs playing in some stalls of music videos native dancers in full regalia dancing. THe locals just gather around to watch, especially the children who are dressed in the colorful textiles of the people in the video. It is just an amazing country. Must get home for the bonfire tonight. Adios…
Tags: Travel
dunlewey
Hi Erin,
I am delighted to read your tales. That is the best news about Aunt Maura, unreal how things unravel. My Mom mentioned Fr. O;Meara to me to tell you about him, she was going to see if she could root out an address for him so we could email you, she will be so pleased to hear when I tell her that you have already spent time with him. I will keep in touch.
Love,
Grace