Machu Picchu, Ancient Ruins

Machu Picchu is the ancient ruin of an Incan city, and is located in a region in the Andes Mountains. It was built between 1400 AD and 1500 AD, a period when Pachacuti, the 9th Inca ruler, and his son Túpac Inca Yupanqu ruled. It was built as a royal estate for them and the rest of their family, along as a city and sanctuary for the Inca. Construction never ceased, as it was a constantly growing city.

Machu Picchu is extremely advanced for being an ancient city. Its water system is ingenious for its time. The city is located in the Could Forest, a very damp, hot, and humid place. Most of it is underground, as the Inca were eager to escape the trying climate; to prevent potential landslides and remove water from the city to reduce flooding, they built an extensive drainage system. A slightly inclined 749 mile canal was constructed, along with 16 fountains; one for each neighborhood. The fountain at the very top was reserved for the king, and the canal allowed water to flow throughout the city. Machu Picchu was also made earthquake resistant, as it is positioned in a place susceptible to earthquakes between two geological fault lines.

Machu Picchu was considered a place of worship for the Inca. There are various shrines and sacred places high up around the city that allowed the Inca to observe the sky above for their worship. Machu Picchu also has several temples, one of them being the Moon Temple, located behind Huayna Picchu Mountain, one of two mountains the site is positioned between.

There are approximately 200 buildings in the city, along with agricultural terraces, walkways, plazas, and a cemetery. Machu Picchu is a monumental place that provides much information on Inca culture, insight on their engineering genius, and a glimpse of ancient Peruvian life.

The Temple of the Moon at Machu Picchu

“Facts about Machu Picchu – History, Archaeology, Fun Facts!” TreXperience, trexperienceperu.com/blog/facts-about-machu-picchu.

Britannica. “Machu Picchu | History, Facts, Maps, & Photos.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 17 Aug. 2018, www.britannica.com/place/Machu-Picchu.

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