purplecat | Sacsayhuaman (Reply)

Sacsayhuaman is a massive Inca fortress, called the House of the Sun, on a hill top above Cusco. We were taken up their on our first day in Peru, walked around the site and then walked back down into Cusco.

Two man made looking hills with a flat space filled with people in between. Both are terraced.

Two man made looking hills with a flat space filled with people in between. Both are terraced.

Us standing in front of one of the constructs - walls formed of large rocks hold up the terracs

A flat space with low remains of stone walls, leading to what was once a circular building in the centre. Modern housing rised up a hill is visible beyond.

This is at the top of the mound you see on the right in the images above. You can just see the remains of a circular building called Muyuq Marka which was a temple to the sun.
A view of stone butresses. The stones are large and fit together neatly.

A view of stone butresses. The stones are large and fit together neatly.

This is the kind of posh stone-working without mortar that we were to see later in Machu Picchu and is visible throughout Cusco in the base of buildlings. However the individual stones at Sacsayhuaman are massive
B standing in front of a dry stone wall. The stone he stands before is more than twice his size.

B standing in front of a dry stone wall. The stone he stands before is more than twice his size.

Really massive in places. Arturo said that in many places they are acutally exploiting the rock behind the walls.
A view of a large stone built wall with a rising mound behind. People stand in front and are much smaller than the wall.