The Qoricancha or Temple of the Sun was the most important religious construction during the Inca Empire, even years later this place leaves us amazed with its beauty. Learn more about this wonderful place. According to the Inca conception, the Qoricancha was the religious, geographic and political center of Cusco. The temple of the Qoricancha was the location where the entire population of the Tahuantinsuyu paid homage to the highest Inca god, the “Inti” (sun). Due to its importance, the Qoricancha was built with special detail that gives it a unique aesthetic.
History of the Qoricancha
The Temple of the Sun - Qoricancha was originally named “Inticancha or Intiwasi”, which would mean House of the Sun, it was a religious enclosure built in 1200 AD under the order of the Inca Wiracocha.
With the arrival of the Inca Pachacútec to power, the entire city of Cusco went through a process of beautification. It was during this time that the Inticancha was renamed Qoricancha, and enormous walls were built around it, covering them with sheets of gold, silver and precious stones.
With the arrival of the Spanish invasion, the Temple of the Sun was looted and destroyed. According to some historians, the gold belonging to this enclosure was taken to Cajamarca to pay the ransom of the Inca Atahualpa.
The temple became the property of Francisco Pizarro, who gave it to the Dominican order, who demolished what was left of the Temple of Qoricancha to build the Temple of Santo Domingo. The construction suffered 3 earthquakes (1650, 1749 and 1950), completely damaging the Church of Santo Domingo. Only the Inca aurochs remain intact.
In 1956, the reconstruction of the Temple of the Sun - Qoricancha began, with the priority being to expose the Inca walls.
Who were the first to build the “Qoricancha”?
According to many chroniclers, the first to build a temple in honor of the sun were the original inhabitants of Cusco, the “Ayamarcas”, initially calling it “Inticancha”. This ethnic group was a population that inhabited Cusco approximately in the 13th century, before the beginning of the expansion of the Inca Empire, having a great rivalry with the Incas, however, they were defeated and annexed to the Tahuantinsuyu in the government of the Inca Wiracocha.
What does Qoricancha mean?
Koricancha, Qoricancha or Coricancha would be understood in the Spanish language as “Temple of Gold” coming from the Quechua words Quri “Gold” and Kancha “Temple”.
We can also say that “Qori” means worked gold, its Spanish form would be Cori. “Kancha” means enclosed site, limited by walls, its Spanish form would be Cancha.
So we can say that the name means “Enclosed site that contains gold”.
Qoricancha Architecture - Temple of the Sun
The Qoricancha Temple was a site dedicated to the veneration of the main deity of the Incas, the Sun. This place, in addition to having the Temple of the Sun, has 4 other small temple complexes dedicated to Gods such as the Goddess Killa; the moon, the God Illapa; the lightning, the God K'uychi; the rainbow and the Goddess Chack'a, the star.
All these complexes had a continuous strip of pure gold three meters from the ground that joined each sector, in the same way the wire that held the thatched roof of the enclosures was made of gold. The walls were built with perfectly intertwined natural stones, as in other Inca constructions.
Location of Qoricancha, How to get there?
Qoricancha is located in the city center, at the intersection of Av. El Sol and Calle Santo Domingo, just two blocks from the Plaza de Armas of Cusco.
Attractions of Coricancha
The description made by Garcilaso is in harmony with what is still standing today. Although this is only a pale reflection of what Qoricancha was really like in Inca times.
The Temple of the Sun
It was the main Temple of the entire Qoricancha, occupying more than half the width of the current Church of Santo Domingo. Garcilaso says that inside this temple were the embalmed bodies of the children of the Sun placed for antiquity on chairs and on gold boards, the walls were covered with gold plates, there was a disk representing the figure of the Sun on a gold plate thicker than the other plates that covered the temple. The western end corresponds to the current drum overlooking Av. Sol; its eastern end reached the current church atrium.
The Temple of the Moon
This temple was closer to the Temple of the Sun, since the Moon was considered the wife of the Sun. This building was lined with silver planks, and there was a representation of the Moon made of silver. Inside were kept the mummies of the Coyas arranged in order of antiquity. Approximately half of the Temple was demolished by the Spanish to build the nave of the church of Santo Domingo. It occupies part of the western side of the inner courtyard of the Qoricancha.
The Temple of Venus and the Stars
It is located near the Temple of the Moon, but separated by a beautiful alley, dedicated to Venus and the seven goats and all the other stars. The Incas called Venus “Chasca” which means star. According to historians, the Inca would sit in this temple to be deified or to witness festivals or sacrifices performed in the rectangular courtyard. It occupies part of the western side of the inner courtyard of the Qoricancha.
The Temple of Illapa or Chuki Illapa
Illapa or ChukiIllapa mean lightning, thunder and lightning at the same time. The temple in question is in front of the Temple of Venus, it has three doors with single jambs, equidistant and slightly trapezoidal, and it also has a window on each side wall.
The Temple of K'uychi or Rainbow
In this temple, the Rainbow was worshipped, which according to ancient belief, came from the Sun. It has identical architectural characteristics to the Temple of Illapa. A part of this temple was demolished by the Spanish to build the buildings of the Dominican Convent. It is located north of the Temple of Illapa and in front of the Temple of the Moon, on the eastern side of the inner courtyard of the Qoricancha.
Intipampa
Almost all the peoples of the world, in all times, built large plazas in front of their temples. Inti Pampa (name that translates as Plain of the Sun) is the place where the nobles, their courts, service personnel, dancers, etc. stayed when during the course of festivities the Inca and the nobility moved to the Qoricancha. This site currently corresponds to the Plaza de Santo Domingo, apparently its limits and extension have hardly changed. It is located to the north of what was the Qoricancha.
The Solar Garden
It became the great deposit of offerings that all the subjugated and confederated nations brought to the Sun God, the offerings consisted of representations of flora and fauna of the Tahuantinsuyu. According to some historians, these offerings made of gold and silver were life-size in quantity that filled the place in a surprising way.
The Spanish called it The Solar Garden because of the number of terraces. In colonial times it became an orchard for the Dominican Friars. It is located in the western part of Qoricancha, and can be seen from Av. Sol along its entire length.
The Fountains
There were five water fountains, the origins of the water from the fountains were a kept secret. The fountains had religious significance and were decorated with precious metals. They were located throughout the entire length of Qoricancha, currently we can see a fountain with octagonal corners in the courtyard of Qoricancha.
Hours and entrance fees
The Temple of the Sun is open from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Sundays from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
GENERAL ENTRANCE is S/.15.00 for foreign or national tourists. Entrance is not included in the Tourist Ticket.
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