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A Glimpse into the Lost City

In Peru, at an altitude of 2,430 meters, Machu Picchu is a rare witness to the little-known history of the Inca Empire. This ancient empire is deeply rooted in the history of the west coast of the South American continent and was one of the largest authentic empires when the new continent was discovered at the end of the 15th century. The Inca civilization was noted for its unparalleled creativity in the art of architecture, as the precision and high technology are evident in cutting and paving the rocks to form a city that has always been called the "lost city" and is considered one of the unique architectural masterpieces.

Rediscovery and Accessibility

Visitors can reach Machu Picchu by train from Cusco, 112 kilometers away.
Adventure seekers can hike from Cusco, on a journey through the picturesque canyons of the Andes, to where American explorer Hiram Bingham landed in 1911 AD while searching for what was left of the ancient Inca people after the Spanish conquest.
Bingham found what he was looking for after scaling a mountain wall surrounded by large boulders and being able to see the walls, whose stones emerged timidly from the gaps scattered among the leaves of the trees, and the houses built in organized patterns, revealing in general what he saw of the lost city of Machu Picchu.

The Hidden Majority

According to National Geographic, what a visitor to the city sees today represents only 40% of it. The rest is still buried underground.
It is believed that the Incas did not want Machu Picchu to be discovered, so they set fire to the road leading to it so that the conquistadors would not use it, for fear that their treasures would be looted, and to protect their lands from vandalism and desecration.

Urban Planning and Architectural Mastery

Design and Layout

Machu Picchu is built as a network of streets and squares. It is designed to allow easy circulation between its different parts. The city is divided into two main parts: the agricultural part and the urban part. The agricultural part includes agricultural terraces, while the urban part includes major buildings, such as temples and residences.
Construction TechniquesCreativity in the city's construction is evident in the different stages of its construction, starting from the preparation of the construction site. This process involved leveling the ground and preparing it to be suitable for construction. Builders used methods to ensure the stability of buildings on mountain slopes, which helped reduce the risk of collapse. They also used complex techniques to create strong foundations for structures. These techniques involved placing stones in a way that allowed them to bond together without the need for "mortar"; these strong foundations ensured the long-term stability of the buildings, which helped protect them from earthquakes and landslides.

Water Management Systems

The Incas excelled in building advanced systems to draw water from nearby sources into the city for irrigation, drinking water, and daily use and to ensure that this water reached agricultural and urban areas. They also designed a complex drainage system to cope with the large amounts of rainfall in the area. They used stone channels to drain water from buildings and farmland, which helped support the buildings and protect them from erosion and flooding.

Material Selection

The Inca builders carefully selected stones from nearby sites and polished them using stone tools to ensure a precise fit. This allowed them to create strong monolithic walls capable of withstanding harsh environmental conditions. They used different types of local rocks to build the city, relying mainly on granite igneous stones extracted from the nearby site of Velicamba, to build most of the city's major structures, such as temples and residential buildings. They also used the highly durable igneous andesite rocks to build some delicate and ornate architectural elements such as inscriptions and statues. Clay and limestone rocks were used for some purposes, such as building external walls and roofs that required effective water drainage.

Interpreting the Purpose of Machu Picchu

Because the Inca people did not know how to write or read, and no written record tells their story or the story of this city, the secrets of this city and the reasons for its construction will remain subject to different interpretations and conclusions. Contrary to Bingham's initial belief that Machu Picchu was a royal city or the capital of the last gasp of glory of a defunct civilization, and his belief that the city was the seat of selected women called the Virgins of the Sun, and the belief of some researchers that the city was an entertainment destination for the ruling family; Other researchers suggested that it was built primarily for the Incas to perform their sun worship rituals, where they would offer women sacrifices, believing that they were the daughters of the sacred sun. This explanation suggests the large number of remains of women’s bones in the city compared to the remains of men’s bones.

A Pilgrimage Site?

Researcher Giulio Magli concludes that Machu Picchu was a center for Inca pilgrims, strengthening his conclusion by comparing the urban system, internal organization, and geographical location of Machu Picchu with other centers for pilgrims, such as the Sun Island in Lake Titicaca in Bolivia, and confirming that the urban organization of Machu Picchu bears important differences from cities. Other properties such as Ollantaytambo and Pisac. He also adds that the presence of some structures of a religious nature, such as the Temple of the Three Windows and the Sacred Sunset Stone (a sacred stone for the Incas found at the highest point of Machu Picchu), confirms that the city was built for purely religious purposes. Magli points out that the two routes taken by pilgrims to Machu Picchu and the strategic location of the city carry spiritual dimensions that suit what is known about Inca rituals, especially since the city is considered a strategic location for observing various astronomical phenomena such as the solar solstice, which is closely linked to the sanctity of cosmic phenomena among the Incas. and their beliefs about it.

Machu Picchu Highlights

• Researchers' discussions extend to questions about the true name of the lost city and the story of its discovery. Researchers Donato Gonzalez and Brian Boerb confirm that the lost city was known to the indigenous people before the arrival of Hiram Bingham and that the indigenous people and some explorers such as Enrique Palma, Agustín Lizarraga, and Gavino Sanchez had preceded him there, and it was known to them as Picchu or Hawaiian Picchu, but Bingham's fame Its cosmopolitanism and influence contributed to the spread of the name Machu Picchu by which the city is known today.
• The Temple of the Sun The Temple of the Sun is one of the most important landmarks in Machu Picchu. Its main window allows sunlight to enter distinctively on the day of the solstice, which highlights the importance of the sun in the Inca religion and their deep understanding of astronomy and architecture.
• The Inca Road: This famous road is one of the oldest roads used by the Incas to reach Machu Picchu, and it represents a witness to the cultural heritage of the Incas. It extends across stunning landscapes, offering a unique experience for adventure and climbing lovers, and includes bridges and stairs carved into the rocks.
• Main Inca Square It is believed that this square was used for ceremonies and official meetings. It is surrounded by many important buildings such as residences, temples, and administrative buildings. This square is a witness to the social and political organization of the Incas.
•  Agricultural terraces The agricultural terraces at Machu Picchu represent a masterpiece of engineering. They were built with local stone and designed to suit the mountainous terrain. These terraces were used for agriculture and to exploit rain as the main source of water to dispense with a complex irrigation system, which helped protect the soil, prevent erosion, and ensure the sustainability of agricultural lands.
• The top of the mountain The top of the mountain provides wonderful panoramic views of Machu Picchu and is a favorite destination for adventure lovers. Climbing to the top requires great physical effort, but the magnificent view is worth it.
• Sunset Stone (Intihuatana): This stone is one of the most prominent archaeological monuments in Machu Picchu. It is believed that it was used for purposes serving the astronomical sanctities of the Incas. It is a finely carved stone structure located on top of a hill within the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. Known for its unique design, it is believed to have been used to mark the times of the year, especially the winter solstice, with the stone acting like an astronomical instrument to track the movement of the sun and shadow.

Machu Picchu and the poet Neruda

Machu Picchu and the poet Neruda Machu Picchu have not only been a source of inspiration for engineers and archaeologists, it are also a great source of inspiration for poets. Visiting Machu Picchu was a pivotal moment in the life of the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, who was affected by the grandeur of the site and the ruins surrounding it, which made him reflect on human history and ancient civilizations. He saw Machu Picchu as a symbol of human achievement and the ability to create and survive, drawing inspiration from the city for one of his most famous works, “The Heights of Machu Picchu.” This work reflects a wonderful treatment of some of the most important poetic vocabulary, such as isolation, self-searching, history, legacy, and connection to the land.

Machu Picchu FAQ

1. Why is Machu Picchu known as the "Lost City"?
It got its name because it was hidden from the world for centuries after the fall of the Inca Empire and was only discovered in 1911.

2. When is the best time to visit Machu Picchu?
The best time is during the dry season, between May and September when the weather is more stable.

3. Can you walk to Machu Picchu?
Yes, we can do so with The Inca Trail, which is a scenic route but requires a good level of physical fitness.

4. Why are the buildings of Machu Picchu still standing today?
Thanks to the advanced construction technique used by the Incas, the stones were packed tightly without the use of mortar, making them resistant to earthquakes and collapses.

5. What is the secret of the Intihuatana stone?
It is believed to have been an astronomical instrument for observing the movement of the sun, which the Incas used to determine the planting seasons and the exact time of religious rituals.

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