Search results
Intihuatana is a ritual stone in South America associated with the astronomic clock or calendar of the Inca. Its name is derived from the local Quechua language. The most notable Intihuantana [1] is an archaeological site located at Machu Picchu [2] in the Sacred Valley near Machu Picchu, Peru. The name of the stone (coined perhaps by Hiram ...
- What Is The Intihuatana Stone?
- What Does The Intihuatana Stone Look like?
- How to Find The Intihuatana in Machu Picchu
- What Was The Intihuatana Stone’s function?
- Development of Knowledge About The Intihuatana at Machu Picchu
- Another Example of An Intihuatana Stone
- Intihuatana Machu Picchu Facts
- Other Important Sites at Machu Picchu
- Don’T Miss Out on Intihuatana
The word Intihuatana is in the Quechua language, which was spoken by the Incas and still many people in Peru today. It means‘place to tie up the sun’. Inti means sun, wata to tie, and nais a suffix to mean a tool or place. We aren’t sure that the Incas actually gave it this name as there are no written records, but experts named it this due to its ...
The Intihuatana at Machu Picchu was carved from a huge slab of rock from the surrounding mountains. It stands at the highest elevation inside the archeological site, which is usually known as the Sacred Plaza. It sits above a pyramid-like tiered form with the rock on top. It’s a four-sided stone and each point represents the north, south, east, and...
If you visit Machu Picchu by yourself and need to locate the stone, you’ll find it in the Hanan part of the archeological site, which is near a hill in a pyramid shape. There are two sets of steps that lead directly to the Intihuatana. One comes from the north-side of the complex and the other from the south. It is one of the major sites in Machu P...
Most experts agree that the Intihutana’s main function was astronomical. The idea that it was a sundial comes from the fact that the sun sits directly above the stone on the two equinoxes (March 21st and September 21st) and it creates no shadow at all. This happens because the point on the Intihuatana has a slight inclination of 13 degrees. This re...
In 1920, by coincidence, a German astronomer called Ralf Müller figured out that the two larger sides of the stone were looking 25.5 degrees off magnetic north and 27.5 degrees off magnetic west. Because of this, he worked out that they would point in those directions at the start of winter and summer. Before him and Hiram Bingham, no one in the we...
In addition to Machu Picchu, the Intihuatana stone in Pisac also survived. It’s around 85 km from the Inca citadel and often missed by tourists. A majority of visitors to Pisac only wander around the upper part of the archaeological site, but if you have the time, we recommend you head 30 minutes down into the valleyto see the stone. There’s actual...
Here are a few fun facts we know about the Intihuatana stone at Machu Picchu. 1. For many years, visitors were allowed to touch the stone to feel the energy that radiated off it. However, after some incidents, the sacred stone is now sectioned off. A security guard is always looking over the structure to make sure no hands are placed on the surface...
If you’re wondering what other important parts of the Inca citadel you should visit, check out our list of must-see attractions in Machu Picchu. 1. The Sun Gate (Inti Punku) 2. Huayna Picchu 3. Machu picchu Mountain 4. Inca Bridge 5. Watchman’s Hut 6. The Funerary Stone 7. Temple of the Sun 8. Royal Tomb 9. The Fountains 10. Temple of Three Windows...
Despite the different theories as to what the stone was used for, the main belief is that it was for agricultural and astronomical purposes. When you visit Machu Picchu, make sure you head to Intihuatana to see its unique structure and see if you feel the energy so many have reported coming from the stone. Written by: Liv Palmer
People also ask
Does Machu Picchu have an Intihuatana stone?
How do you say thank you in Quechua?
Where is the Intihuatana stone located?
Why is the Intihuatana stone important?
- Chakana. Also known as the Inca cross, the chakana is a stepped cross, with a cross superimposed on it, and an opening at the center. The term chakana is from the Quechua language, meaning ladder, representing the levels of existence and consciousness.
- Quipu. Without a written language, the Inca created a system of knotted cords called quipu. It’s believed that the position and the type of knots represented a decimal counting system, with the distance between the knots standing for the multiples of 10, 100, or 1000.
- Inca Calendar. The Inca adopted two different calendars. The solar calendar, which consisted of 365 days, was used for planning the farming year, while the lunar calendar was.
- Machu Picchu. One of the world’s most mysterious historical sites, Machu Picchu is the most recognized symbol of the Inca civilization. It was the creation of Pachacuti, a protean ruler, who radically changed the Inca government, religion, colonialism, and architecture.
Sep 16, 2020 · Meaning "ancient mountain" in Quechua, one of Peru’s many indigenous languages, Machu Picchu transformed from a simple summit to a sacred site during the rule of the Inca Empire in the mid 15th century. Located about 45 miles (75km) northwest of Cuzco city, the trek to Machu Picchu is a big draw for travelers, though it was this countryside ...
Machu Picchu Stone, also known as Intihuatana Stone, is a type of Granite located in the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu. It held a central role in both Inca spirituality and science. The stone was skillfully carved and strategically placed to function like an astronomical clock for the Incas. They used it to track the movement of the Sun and ...
Quechua Language and its oral history. One of the interesting things about the Quechua language is that it was historically an oral language; it was not written down! That’s one of the reasons the Andean textile tradition is so important. Nowadays, there is a written Quechua language but because of its oral history, and despite efforts to ...
Granite is a type of rock known for its durability and resistance to weathering. The stone is located on a high point within the city. This position allows the Intihuatana to catch the sun’s rays at different times of the day and throughout the year. The name “Intihuatana” comes from the Quechua language, which was spoken by the Incas.
