Machu Picchu Architecture

Inca Civilization

The Inca civilization was the largest Pre-Columbian civilization in the Americas and Cusco was its capital. The best kept example of its architecture is Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu

The Sacred City is one of the most significant archeological sites left by the Incas

Culture

Fascinating culture and Inca heritage of this beautiful country

Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world. It occupies an important place in Inca mythology.

Animals of Peru

Animals in Peru have specialized and adapted to the conditions of its geography. At higher altitude levels, few animals and plants can survive because of the lack of oxygen.

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Machu Picchu Architecture

Submitted by Staff writer |

Machu Picchu has about 200 buildings that are considered architectural wonders. These buildings were made of individually shaped pieces of carved gray granite stone that fitted perfectly together. Regular Inca buildings were built with rectangular stones which have 8 corners and 6 sides. However, Inca architecture is most known for its polygonal stones used in many religious buildings, they used the largest and most intricate polygonal shaped stones. One temple wall in Machu Picchu has 33 corners.

The gray granite used to build the city was widely available at the ridge. Small pieces were usually detached due to earthquakes. Large pieces were quarried from the bedrock by pounding on natural cracks. Transporting these rocks to the construction site represented a challenge. Small rocks were transported by llamas. Llamas were pack animals but not very strong, they can carry up to 45 kg or 100 lbs, if forced with a heavy load they would refuse to move. Large blocks of granite had to be dragged by men using woven ropes to pull and levers to push them to the construction site. These workers were mita laborers who paid taxes by working, they would get clothes, health care, education and food in exchange for their labor.

Stonemasons shaped large granite blocks by pounding rocks on them, they were able to flatten and create smooth edges and corners so that each piece interlocked with the next one to create a wall. The skill to shape a polygonal block and fit it with such precision against another is remarkable considering that they did not use mortar or cement. The most expert Inca masons shaped blocks of stones with stone axes, obsidian pebbles and smoothed the edges with sand.

As in other Inca cities, Machu Picchu followed the religious architectural pattern of truncated pyramid construction. Buildings contained rectangular rooms with irregular sized walls, their roof was made of wooden logs and covered with straw. Today, due to the passage of time, the buildings do not have a roof any more. The only construction with a semicircular wall is the Temple of the Sun. The Temple of the Sun was the most important building in Machu Picchu. Priests observed how the shadows of the sun cast through the windows creating a spiritual connection with Inti.

Other significant monuments are the Intihuatana stone, the Room of the Three Windows, water fountains or pools, Royal Mausoleum and the Residence of the Priest.

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