Astronomy of the Inca Empire: Use and Significance of the Sun and the Night Sky

Description

Astronomy in the Inca Empire was a robust and fundamental practice. The subsequent Spanish conquest of the Andes region disrupted much of this indigenous culture and resulted in a significant loss of information about its rich history. Through modern archaeoastronomy, this book helps recover and interpret some of these elements of Inca civilization. Astronomy was intricately woven into the very fabric of Andean existence and daily life. Accordingly, the text takes a holistic approach to its research, considering first and foremost the cultural context of each astronomy-related site. The chapters necessarily start with a history of the Incas from the beginning of their empire through the completion of the conquest by Spain before diving into an astronomical and cultural analysis of many of the huacas found in the heart of the Inca Empire. Over 300 color images—original artwork and many photos captured during the author’s extensive field research in Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, Cusco, and elsewhere—are included throughout the book, adding visual insight to a rigorous examination of Inca astronomical sites and history. Foreword Preface Acknowledgments Contents Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Evolution of An Empire 2.1 Before the Incas 2.2 The Early Incas 2.3 Rulers of Imperial Expansion Pachacuti Yupanqui Inca 2.4 Spanish Conquest 2.5 Inca Resistance 2.6 The Catholic Purge 2.7 Summary Chapter 3: Cultural Context 3.1 Religion 3.2 Cosmology 3.3 Sacred Landscape 3.4 Camay 3.5 Intihuatanas 3.6 Sacred Animals 3.7 Ancestors 3.8 Social Issues 3.9 Organization 3.10 Succession 3.11 Festivals 3.12 Climate 3.13 Agriculture 3.14 Irrigation 3.15 Imperial Expansion 3.16 Pilgrimage 3.17 Building an Empire 3.18 Architecture 3.19 Inca Roads 3.20 Carved Rocks 3.21 Summary Chapter 4: Ceques and Huacas 4.1 History 4.2 Ceques 4.3 Huacas 4.4 Huaca Maintenance and Worship 4.5 Ceque and Huaca Astronomy 4.6 Ceque System Controversy 4.7 Summary Chapter 5: Archaeoastronomy 5.1 The Celestial Sphere 5.2 Motions of the Heavens 5.3 Solstices and Equinoxes 5.4 Cardinal Directions 5.5 Zenith and Anti-Zenith Sun 5.6 Horizon Astronomy 5.7 Field Research Archaeoastronomical Implements Spherical Trigonometry Temporal and Atmospheric Phenomena 5.8 Summary Chapter 6: Inca Astronomy and Cosmology 6.1 A Complex Astronomy 6.2 Sun Worship 6.3 Cosmology and Origins 6.4 Festivals and Ceremonies 6.5 Inca Horizon Astronomy 6.6 Architectural Alignments 6.7 Ushnus, Sucancas, Pillars, and Gnomons 6.8 Inca Calendar 6.9 The Moon 6.10 The Milky Way 6.11 Stars 6.12 Ceque System and the Stars 6.13 Cosmology and Atmospheric Phenomena 6.14 Summary Chapter 7: Orientations at or near Cusco, at Tipon, and at Saihuite 7.1 Kenko Grande 7.2 Kenko Chico 7.3 Mesa Redonda 7.4 Tetecaca 7.5 Patallacta 7.6 Kusilluchayoc 7.7 Lacco 7.8 Huaca 44 7.9 Lanlakuyok 7.10 Puca Pucara 7.11 Tambomachay 7.12 Sacsahuaman 7.13 Mollaguanca 7.14 Sapantiana 7.15 Rumiwasi Bajo 7.16 Rumiwasi Alto 7.17 Kusicallanca 7.18 Tipon 7.19 Saihuite 7.20 Summary Chapter 8: Orientations in the Sacred Valley 8.1 Chinchero Cardinal and Solsticial Alignments Solsticial Alignments Zigzagged Channel The First Rock East of the Chapel Kondorkaka Mesakaka Chinkana Titikaka 8.2 Pisac 8.3 Q’espiwanka Solar Pillars Viewing From the South Wall of the Palace Other Alignments 8.4 Cerro Pumahuachana 8.5 Cerro Unoraqui 8.6 Maras 8.7 Moray 8.8 Choquequilla 8.9 Ollantaytambo Terraces Temple of the Sun Pinkuylluna Mountain Pyramid of Pacaritanpu Incamisana Bañjo de la Ñusta 8.10 Summary Chapter 9: Orientations in and Surrounding Machu Picchu 9.1 History and Design Architectural Plan and Engineering Ceques, Axes, and Sightlines 9.2 Machu Picchu Site Intihuatana. Sacred Plaza Torreon/Royal Mausoleum/Temple of the Sun The Mortars Intimachay Temple of the Condor Huayna Picchu Temple of the Moon 9.3 River Intihuatana Intihuatana Platform Fountain Basins Caves Structure A Structure B Boulder Steps Tower Andenes Design Similarities Access 9.4 Llactapata June Solstice Sunrise Pleiades Rise Linked Ceremonialism Between Llactapata and Machu Picchu 9.5 Summary Chapter 10: Discussion, Findings, and Conclusion 10.1 Discussion Cusco Region, Tipon, and Saihuite The Sacred Valley Machu Picchu Region 10.2 Findings Additional Motifs and Features Statistical Summaries 10.3 Concluding Remarks Appendices A.1 Glossary A.2 Azimuths and Inclinations Cusco Region, Tipon, and Saihuite The Sacred Valley Machu Picchu Region A.3 GPS Field Data Cusco Region, Tipon, and Saihuite The Sacred Valley Machu Picchu Region A.4 Magnetic Declination Cusco Region, Tipon, and Saihuite The Sacred Valley Machu Picchu Region A.5 Solar Horizon Positions Cusco Region, Tipon, and Saihuite The Sacred Valley Machu Picchu Region A.6 Spherical Trigonometry Formulae Bibliography Index