The Inca-Canari Ruins At Ingapirca II

by Al Bourassa

Title

The Inca-Canari Ruins At Ingapirca II

Artist

Al Bourassa

Medium

Photograph - Photographic Artworks

Description

With panoramic views, the sight of the Inca Empire’s only remaining sun temple stands proudly on a hill surrounding the Cañar province countryside. The Ingapirca ruins are easily Ecuador’s best set of pre-Columbian ruins and well worth a day trip from Cuenca.
Ingapirca (Kichwa: Inka Pirka, “Inca wall”) is a town in Cañar Province, Ecuador, and the name of the older Inca ruins and archeological site nearby.
These are the largest known Inca ruins in Ecuador. The most significant building is the Temple of the Sun, an elliptically shaped building constructed around a large rock.
This area had long been settled by the Cañari indigenous people, who called it Hatun Cañar. As the Inca Empire expanded into southern Ecuador, the Inca Túpac Yupanqui encountered the Cañari “Hatun Cañar” tribe. He had difficulties in conquering them. He used different political strategies, marrying the Cañari princess and improving the Cañari city of Guapondelig, calling it Tomebamba or Pumapungo (nowadays Cuenca).
The Inca and Cañari decided to settle their differences and live together peacefully. The astronomical observatory was built under Inca Huayna Capac. The Inca renamed the city as Ingapirca and kept most of their distinctive customs separately, as the Cañari did theirs. Although the Inca were more numerous, they did not demand that the Cañari give up their autonomy.
The castle complex is of Cañari-Inca origin. Its purpose is uncertain. The complex was used as a fortress and storehouse from which to resupply Inca troops en route to northern Ecuador. At Ingapirca they also developed a complex underground aqueduct system to provide water to the entire compound.
The Temple of the Sun is the most significant building whose partial ruins survive at the archeological site. It is constructed in the Inca way without mortar, as are most of the structures in the complex. The stones were carefully chiseled and fashioned to fit together perfectly. It was positioned in keeping with their beliefs and knowledge of the cosmos. Researchers have learned by observation that the Temple of the Sun was positioned so that on the solstices, at exactly the right time of day, sunlight would fall through the center of the doorway of the small chamber at the top of the temple. Most of this chamber has fallen down.
The people had numerous ritual celebrations at the complex. They prepared gallons of a local fermented drink to consume in the rituals of these festivals. As sun and moon worshipers, they tried to be as close to their gods as possible, and built their monuments high in the mountains.
The weather changes rapidly, within minutes, ranging from calm and sunny one minute and rainy, windy, and cold another minute. This climate volatility is typical year round. The people felt strongly that this was the place where the gods had led them, regardless of the climate.
Above is courtesy of Wikipedia.
This digitally altered artwork is derived from my photograph taken July 3/16 in Ecuador, South America nestled in the Andes Mountains. Final processing done with Smart Photo Editor.
NOTE that the Fine Art America watermark will NOT appear on any purchased product.
All work is copyright protected and may not be used in any way without purchase.
I do hope you enjoy my work.
Comments are graciously accepted.
Favoring is greatly appreciated.
Purchases are fantastic!
You may see more artwork for sale at http://souvenirphotostudio.neocities.org/ or saccc05.tripod.com

Uploaded

July 15th, 2017

Statistics

Viewed 440 Times  -  Last Visitor from Ottawa, ON - Canada on 04/24/2024 at 8:34 PM

Colors

Embed

Share

Sales Sheet

Tags