City of Cuzco (UNESCO/NHK)

Summary

The historic city of Cusco, once the capital of the Inca Empire, is nestled in the Andes Mountains of Peru at an altitude of 3,400 meters. It features the Baroque Cathedral, a central gathering point, and the Puma-shaped city layout. The Inca people revered nature, with guardian gods like condors, pumas, and snakes. Despite the Spanish conquest that razed Incan palaces and temples, remnants of the empire remain, including stone walls and the Santo Domingo Convent, built atop a former sun temple. The city's sacred hill, Saqsaywaman, and its water channels from the Inca period add to the mystique of this ancient civilization.

Takeaways

• 🗻 The historic city of Cusco is located in Peru, high in the Andes Mountains at 3,400 meters above sea level.
• 🏰 Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire before the Spanish Conquest in the early 16th century.
• 🏰 The Spanish destroyed Incan palaces and temples, significantly altering the city's landscape.
• ⛪ The Plaza de Armas, with the Baroque cathedral, is a central gathering point in Cusco.
• 🌟 The Inca people worshiped nature, with Condors, Pumas, and snakes as Guardian Gods.
• 🏰 The city is believed to be shaped like a Puma, with distinct parts representing the head, heart, and other organs.
• 🏰 Remnants of the Inca Empire, including stone walls, still stand in Cusco.
• 🌞 Santo Domingo Convent was built on the site of a temple dedicated to the sun, which was the most sacred site during the Inca period.
• 🏰 The Spaniards removed gold decorations but left the stone structure of the temple, building a church on top.
• 💧 A courtyard dating back to Colonial times is supplied with water from an Inca-era channel.
• 🏞️ The sacred Hill of Saqsaywaman, believed to have a religious purpose, is part of the Puma-shaped city and was a strategic defense point during the Inca resistance against the Spanish.

Q & A

In which country is the historic city of Cusco located?

The historic city of Cusco is located in Peru.

At what elevation is Cusco situated?

Cusco is situated 3,400 meters above sea level.

What significant historical role did Cusco play before the Spanish Conquest?

Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire before the Spanish Conquest.

Which structure in the main square is mentioned as a gathering point?

The Barack Cathedral in the main square is mentioned as one of the main gathering points.

What did the Spaniards do to the Incan palaces and temples when they invaded Cusco?

The Spaniards destroyed all Incan palaces and temples when they invaded Cusco in the early 16th century.

What did the Inca people worship, according to the script?

The Inca people worshiped nature, and animals like Condors, Pumas, and snakes which were considered Guardian Gods.

What is the significance of the Puma shape in relation to the city of Cusco?

The city of Cusco has a Puma shape, with this part being the Head and the Heart being the central area.

What remnants of the Inca Empire have been found in Cusco?

Remnants of the Inca Empire in Cusco include stone walls that still stand and were part of their sacred sites.

What was the original purpose of the site where Santo Domingo Convent now stands?

The site where Santo Domingo Convent now stands used to be a Temple dedicated to the Sun during the Inca period.

How did the Spaniards alter the Temple of the Sun?

The Spaniards took the golden statues of the Sun and removed the Golden Leaf from the walls of the Temple of the Sun, leaving the stone structure and building the church on top.

What is the significance of the site known as Saqsaywaman?

Saqsaywaman, known as the sacred hill, is believed to have had a religious purpose and was also a strategic defense point for the Inca Army during the war against the Spaniards.