Chris wanted to see the giant stones of Sacsayhuaman. He found out about the ruins while in Peru and how the people brought huge boulders to create the fortress. He was so curious about how they could’ve possibly done this, perhaps like the pyramids in Egypt? So we decided to trek out to find them, and of course, in Cusco, everything goes up! We walked for what felt like miles to get to the top of the city. Upon reaching the ruins, beautiful stones and wide open space, we were practicing saying the name…..Sacsayhuaman. It has been said as “sexy woman” in English to help tourists pronounce it. However, these are the ruins of the Cusco people. The stones of the protective fortress are still standing and can be visited today.
These stones weigh in the tons, hundreds of tons, and it seems improbable for how they could have been moved into place? The history behind the fortress is fascinating yet unfortunately involves war, power, and the need for land expansion…an issue we sadly still have today. The ruler at the time, Pachacutec, wanted the whole area designed in the shape of a Puma. He remained in power protecting Cusco for decades and the entire structure was finished after his death. The site was used for protection, political control, and religious ceremonies. The stones were carried by the people of Cusco, 10 to 20 miles, over a very rocky and uneven terrain. Many lives were lost in the process to build such a structure; just like any man made archaeological wonder throughout history, such as the Great Wall of China or the pyramids of Giza. This place was eventually conquered by the Spanish in the 1500s. The stones were slowly dismantled over time and in the 1900s were seen as a site to be protected.
Chris was fascinated by the mystery and beauty of the stones. I was fascinated by the culture, the people, and the history behind them. Both of us discussed how the stones may have got there in length. Even on the backs of many men…how did they do it?! Any ideas? Please leave them in the comments. Here are a few pictures of us walking around the ruins and exploring. This is a must see if you ever get a chance to go to Cusco. Such a beautiful city and filled with so much history. I hope you had a marvelous Monday. I have been busy making Christmas Ornaments and filling orders. So…have a terrific Tuesday and thank you for reading!
-Karen Hilliard