Pachacama

Our private tour of Pachacama started with a shoreline drive through the lovely area of Barranco, a community of economic diversity.  Like many places in Lima, beautiful murals adorn buildings.

Pachacama was a pre-Hispanic religious sanctuary.  The term means life giver of the world.  The peoples spoke Quetchuan.  Qhapaq Nan, their main road, led to territories that today include.Columbia, Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina and Brazil a distance of about 6,000 miles.  

Adobe was the primary construction material with small rocks positioned for stability.  The site continues to be uncovered and researched

We first visited the museum.  This Hucan idol has two faces on front and back to show he knows everything.  When he saw a need, he determined the sacrifices of men, women, young and old.

Leaders were buried in a basket with favorite possessions.

This water vessel was used for drinking, generally beer was favored.

A mask was placed atop the corpse which was situated in a fetal position and then wrapped with cheaper wraps topped by a more ornate wrap.  The eyes were generally hollow so that the deceased could "see" to get to the next life.

This House of Beautiful Girls was where young girls were trained in the skills necessary for their adulthood including weaving, cooking and other designated skills.

These large vessels are of unknown use.  It is speculated that the larger one may have contained a few bodies.

Anna Lee is wondering if she can make the climb to the next level.  She did it very well.

The complex had its own fresh water system set up so that each building has its own source.  Waste water was transported out by a separate system.

The primary area of the ruin is the Temple of the Sun situated on the highest point in the complex.