Machu Picchu

Visit the Residences of...

Machu Picchu

Build a new Property

2 Estates

Estate of * Anarane Burgundian

House of Walking Memories

Estate of * Zama Roca

Casa en el Cielo

2 Hearths

Hearth of * Apo Mayta Huacac

Mayta Huacac's Llama Farm

Hearth of * Chasca Huallpa

La Casa del Condor

11 Pit Houses

Pit House of * Pia YellowBird

The Syrinx Company

Pit House of * Sam YellowBird

Sam's vast blue space on earth

Pit House of * Anahuarque Coya Yupanqui

Moth Wasi

Pit House of * Pachacuti Inka Yupanqui

Pachacuti's Place

Pit House of * Mayua Inca

Wasi With a View

Pit House of * Ishtar YellowStar

Vacant Property

Pit House of * Savio Inca

The Temple of Quetzalcoatl

Pit House of * Aztec Inca

Macchu House

Pit House of * Zahn Moteuczoma

Home of Zahn Moteuczoma

Pit House of * Topiltzin Tupac

MP Movie House

♦ Next 1 ♦ Bottom ♦

Build a new Property in Machu Picchu

Sort by:
Name | Date

Travel to other Territories in... Yucay

	Machu Picchu
	Qosqo

	Create a new Territory in Yucay

Yucay's District of

Machu Picchu

Chief: Position is currently vacant

Erected in the mountains of the Sacred Valley some 44 miles (70 km) northwest of Qosqo, the royal estate of Machu Picchu contains hundreds of well-preserved Incan structures which survived Hispanic interference. As a result of its solely Incan influence, the site has become the most prevalent symbol of Tawantinsuyu and its people.

Old Mountain

Machu Picchu is a combination of the Quechua terms machu ("old") and picchu ("mountain"), hence its meaning: old mountain. The site as it exists today was built between 1440 and 1450 by Sapa Inca Pachacuti; any prior settlements here were deconstructed by the Inca for the development of the nnew colony. The settlement was a royal estate with a population which teemed over during the Sapa Inca's occupancy and that his court, but was otherwise scarely inhabited by only those who were necessary for maintainence at the estate.

The elevation of Machu Picchu is 7,710 feet (2,350 m) above sea level. Surrounded by mountains, the site sits upon a cliff, beneath which is found a sheer drop to the Urubamba River far below. Of note is the nearby peak of Huayna Picchu ("young mountain"). This idyllic peak dominates the area and maintains a persistent presence in photographs of Machu Picchu. Legend suggests Huayna Picchu was instrumental in the selection of Machu Picchu for a royal estate. To the Incas the complex represents the Sapa Inca's face while Huayan Picchu is his nose. With this perspective in mind, the Incan ruler is forever gazing skyward, up toward the gods.

While intended to provide a country refuge for the royals, Machu Picchu steathly served as a method to institute Incan presence in the area. Certainly, from this high vantage point, the Inca could observe and regulate travel and commerce which proceeded in and out of the Sacred Valley. Therefore Machu Picchu was much like the many llantas built by the Incas through the empire. These regional colonies sought to impose Incan supervision and influence over the acquired territories of Tawantinsuyu.

Lost City of the Incas

Machu Picchu was rediscovered on July 24, 1911, and immediately captivated the world's attention. Hiram Bingham, a professor at Yale University, had been in attendance at a scientific conference in Santiago, Chile, when he received an invitation to tour ancient Peruvian cities. On July 24, a local guide led Bingham to Machu Picchu, which had been known of long to the locals. With the help of the National Geographic Society, Bingham returned in 1912 and 1915, excavating the site and producing a number of literary accounts, the most popular of which was Lost City of the Incas. Incorrectly, Bingham assumed that he had found Vilcabamba, the rebel city of Sapa Inca Manco Inca, destroyed by the Spanish in 1572.

Bingham is a controversial figure in Machu Picchu's history. It is improbable that he was the first individual to "re-discover" the mountain estate; a number of Hispanic names were found etched into the Incan masonry prior to Bingham's arribal. Thousands of artifacts were to be removed from the site during his excavations and sent to Yalem where they remain today despite protests from the Peruvian government. To his credit, Bingham is recognized for gaining Machu Picchu the international attention, though the site's majesty is solely responsible for its continued popularity.

Below you will find the major sections and structures of the 140 buildings of the royal estate. To learn more about each, click within the colored regions on the map.

Agricultural Sector

After a gruelling climb up the mountain side, the agricultural sector [view] spreads out prior to the actual royal estate. Dwellings for the farmers sit on the outskirts of the farming terraces. A three-sided watchpost stands over the mountain path to observe incoming traffic. To the south rests a large, flat stone known as the Funerary Rock [view]. Here, bodies of the deceased were laid to dry under the sun prior to mummification. Separating this agriculatural sector from the urban areas was a dry moat. Running along the perimeter between the two sections, the moat provided for limited access into the estate.

Sun Temple

The Sun Temple [view] was dedicated to the solar god and patron Incan deity, Inti. Accessible to only the priests and the Sapa Inca, the temple was an important observatory in which the measurement of the solstices was undertaken. A carved boulder altar in the center of the structure supported the animal sacrifices which provided organs for the priests to make their predictions.

Beneath the Sun Temple is a cavernous room named the Royal Tomb [view]. Here the nobles, and maybe the Sapa Inca himself, were laid to rest in their mummified state. Certainly the underground location mimicks the Incan notion of Ukja Pacha ("underworld") and thereby death. Another structure in the temple complex is the two story Nusta/Priest's Inclosure. Here the Willaq Uma ("High Priest") resided close at hand.

Royal Kancha

Opposite the Sun Temple stands a kancha, an apartment complex whose particular residents were the Sapa Inca and his extended family. The structure includes bedrooms (complete with stone bed frames), patios, kitchen, workshop, and a royal studio.

Temple of the Three Windows

Erected overlooking the Main Plaza is the Temple of the Three Windows [view]. Unlike the enclosed and exclusive Sun Temple, this structure has three walls, while the fourth is an open space obstructed only by columns to support the roof. Originally built with five windows, two were filled to leave behind the three from which the building's name is derived. A stone located within has steps carved into it representing the three worlds: Ukja Pacha, Kay Pacha ("earth"), and Hanan Pacha ("heaven").

Main Temple

The Main Temple is Machu Picchu's chief temple, yet it was not devoted to the worship of solar Inti. In fact, the deity which was worshipped here is not known, though there is speculation that it may have been Wiraqocha, an indivisible Andean god and the supreme Incan deity.

Intiwatana

The Initiwatana (alternatively Intihuatana) complex is dominated by an awkward pyramid [view] built by the Incas on this harsh, mountainous location. A number of narrow terraces surround the pyramid, built not for agriculture but to halt erosion that would threaten the integrity of Initiwatana. These terraces also enabled the planting of gardens, increasing the decorative beauty of the complex.

The portion of the pyramid facing the Main Plaza was flattened to provide an Usnu, or platform, from which the Sapa Inca and other officials could address those congregated in the plaza below. A number of buildings line the structure, but the top of the pyramid held the site's most important feature.

Sitting upon the pyramid is a polished, polygonal boulder with a large, fin-like piece which juts up from the stone's center [view]. This peculiar rock provides the complex with it's name: Intiwatana is the "sun fastener". The winter solstice prompted the great, annual celebration of the Inti Raymi ("sun festivity"). At this time, with the earth located furthest from the Inti ("sun"), the Incas sought to tie the escaping orb to the earth via the Intiwatana. It also was likely to serve an astrological role.

Main Plaza

In the heart of Machu Picchu is found a long, open space around which the estate's buildings stand. This is the Main Plaza [view] where the assemblies and celebrations of the populace occurred.

Workshops

The Workshops sector of eastern Machu Picchu features private dwellings, storehouses, and craft shops. Located in this area are several underground structures with altars and sculptures.

Industrial Sector

The Workshops are neighbored by the Industrial Sector, whose purpose may or may not have been industrial. The structures here may have been used for the production or storage of goods like pottery, weavings, and beer. Alternatively they could have built for astronomical purposes, with the suggestion that the buildings were roofless for observation purposes. Several buildings also contained individual altars.

Temple of the Condor

The Temple of the Condor [view] served the worship of Apu Kuntur ("Condor God"), one of three sacred Incan animals (the others are the puma and the snake). A sculpture here depicts the Andean Condor landing at the site. Some have suggested, rather fictionally, that the temple served as a jail. The prisoners here were left to die, then their remains were dragged out to attract condors to come and feast.

Sacred Rock

The Sacred Rock [view], located at the northwestern section of Machu Picchu near the path to Huayna Picchu, is a polished, natural outcrop of the mountain whose appearance is similar to that of the Yanantin mountain located behind it. As the Inca revered mountains as apus, or guardian spirits, respect and depictions for the mountains which surrounded the Incan settlements were not unusual.