Pucará, the first great culture of the altiplano and southern Andes. скачать в хорошем качестве

Pucará, the first great culture of the altiplano and southern Andes.

Pucará, the first great culture of the altiplano and southern Andes. The modern town of Pucará is located 106 kilometers from the city of Puno, in the district of Pucará. The area is famous for its crafts and pottery, especially for its distinguished Toritos de Pucará, or clay Bulls that are a symbol of protection, happiness and fertility. To the north lies the "Rock of Pucará" below the Puka Orcco mountain. Between the two, one can appreciate a succession of terraces and retaining stone walls in the "step pyramid" style, which is known as Qalasaya - the main archaeological center of Pucara In its interior are 2 types of buildings - a rustic one that was perhaps destined for the general population or for the urban sector, and the religious building used for sacred ceremonies. In one of its temples there are two squares, one dedicated to the divine feminine and the other the divine masculine. They represent the two forces of this physical world. Beneath the two squares are underground passages that were used to remind us of our connection to the most powerful deities of our spiritual world In the town of Pucará resides the Lithic Museum of Pucará. Here we can observe a great collection of objects from the Pucará Culture. There are many exceptional monoliths or stone sculptures that illustrate a deep connection with nature and the essence of the Andean cosmovision There are beautiful representations of Andean iconography - among them there are fish, snakes, amphibians, felines, camelids, human beings and mythical beings. One of the most outstanding sculptures is that resembling a cosmic being, which represents a sacred deity for the Pucara people: a master with feline features representing the Puma and Lake Titicaca, also known as Mama Cocha in the native language. Another curious monolith is the HATUN ÑAKAQ or "decapitator", an extraordinary deity that holds in his left hand a severed head, and in the other holds a ceremonial knife. According to ancient wisdom, this being was a master who taught the removal of the ego. In the museum we can also appreciate ceramics pertaining to the temple of Qalasaya, highlighting many zoomorphic and geometric figures. In present times, one of the more prominent features in the modern town of Pucará is the colonial church of Santa Isabel, built in the year 1767 by the Jesuit order. It has a baroque style architecture that endured through several changes throughout its existence. It was declared a national heritage site in 1972. In this place, every 16th of July, the Festival of La Virgen del Carmen Patron Saint is celebrated by its local inhabitants The Pucara culture were highly advanced masters in hydraulic engineering and construction, represented in its monoliths, dwellings, subterranian constructions and ceremonial centers. They also express a deep wisdom in their sculptures, textiles and ceramic techniques. This first great culture of the Southern Andes went on to influence the cultures that followed in its footsteps, including the great Inca civilization. #inkayniperutours #pucara #rutadelsol