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1994
Peru (Cuzco) - South America
Bec2004-09-20 16:56:23
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Cuzco
Cuzco, the capital of the Inca Empire, had already existed for several centuries when the first Inca, Manco Capac, moved in from the nearby village of the Paqari-tampu and made it the seat of his dynasty in the 12th century.
When the Spanish conquistadors moved in, they destroyed everything they could and used what was left as foundations and building materials for their own churches and palaces. That green spot in the center is the Plaza de Armas which we will see close-up later.
Sacsayhuaman
The Tawantinsuyu, (that's what they called themselves), were in extremely disciplined warrior society who had been told, and who believed, that their leader, whom they called the Inca, was the son of Inti the Sun God who was obeyed by all the other Gods in "God land". They lived quietly without bothering their neighbours for a couple of centuries until the fourth Inca, Mayta Capac discovered his "manifest destiny" and began building the Inca Empire in the 14th century.
Behind me is a very small part of the huge fortress Sacsayhuaman defending Cuzco from the overlooking heights to the west of the city.
Cuzco
Starting in 1571, the powerful Jesuits built the Church of the Company of Jesus (La Compańia), on the remains of the Inca Amarucancha (Courtyard of Serpents) on eastern side of the Plaza de Armas. It competes in splendour with the Cathedral of which a part can be seen on the left of this picture.
Construction of the Cathedral started in 1559 and took a century to complete. This photo of a parade on Plaza de Armas struck me as being symbolically representative of Peru today. It's all there, the privileged elites standing on the steps between the Cathedral and the Army with the anonymous mass of Quechua campesinos in the background!
This ancient street, now called Loretto, is lined with fine Inca stonework.
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See photographs from:
Peru Gallery
