Coricancha - Cuzco, Peru
The Coricancha, which translates to "golden enclosure" was the most sacred temple in ancient Cuzco. It was considered the center of the Inca Empire, or Tawantinsuyo, and was the central point that divided the empire into its four realms.
The Coricancha consisted of many rooms, including temples to the Sun and the Moon. The Coricancha housed the mummified remains of previous Inca rulers. The mummies were brought out to preside over ceremonial occasions like Intiraymi.
The outer walls of the temple were covered in gold plates and a large garden consisting of life sized llamas and corn stalks was made of gold. The golden image of the Sun and a large chain made of gold were also housed here. Most of the gold was taken by the Spanish, melted down, and sent back to Spain.
The Dominican Order took the site over shortly after the conquest and built the Dominican Monastery on the site. In 1950 an earthquake damaged the monastery and exposed the original Inca wall that is visible from the Avenida del Sol.
Coricancha - Cuzco, Peru
The Coricancha, which translates to "golden enclosure" was the most sacred temple in ancient Cuzco. It was considered the center of the Inca Empire, or Tawantinsuyo, and was the central point that divided the empire into its four realms.
The Coricancha consisted of many rooms, including temples to the Sun and the Moon. The Coricancha housed the mummified remains of previous Inca rulers. The mummies were brought out to preside over ceremonial occasions like Intiraymi.
The outer walls of the temple were covered in gold plates and a large garden consisting of life sized llamas and corn stalks was made of gold. The golden image of the Sun and a large chain made of gold were also housed here. Most of the gold was taken by the Spanish, melted down, and sent back to Spain.
The Dominican Order took the site over shortly after the conquest and built the Dominican Monastery on the site. In 1950 an earthquake damaged the monastery and exposed the original Inca wall that is visible from the Avenida del Sol.