Machu Picchu Layout

Regardless of its purpose, what is clear is that a large degree of intelligence went into the careful planning and construction of the Inca citadel. Closer examination of the ruins reveals that much thought was given to the different elements of the city and their arrangement in relation both to one another and to the surrounding natural environment.

Machu Picchu is split into two sections by a grassy central plaza. Generally speaking, to the east of the plaza are a variety of religiously important structures. On the western side are mostly civil structures that would have been the living area of workers in the city.

Machu Picchu Religious Structures

One of the most fascinating aspects of the ruins is the high concentration of important religious structures. These indicate that the site almost certainly had some sort of religious significance. Most of the main structures are concentrated around the Sacred Plaza.

Temple of the Sun

The importance of this temple is apparent at first as it features the most immaculate and precise stone masonry to be found on the whole site and it is the only part of the ruin to feature a curved wall.

The real significance of the sun temple however lies in its alignment with the heavens. The center stone of the temple is angled with an adjacent window in such a way that the light of the sunrise on the winter solstice in June illuminates it. This has led archeologists to believe that the temple may have acted as an astronomical observation center.

Temple of the Three Windows

Perhaps the most striking portion of the ruins, the temple of the Three Windows is another testament to the geometric precision of Inca architecture. It is also a wonderful example of how their architecture echoed the surrounding environment: each of the three gaping trapezoidal windows frames a separate peak on the horizon.

Principal Temple

This is named due to its size and complexity and that it stands above other areas of the citadel. A diamond shaped stone is incorporated in its center which is said to depict the Southern Cross constellation. It includes a sub temple called the Sacristy where it is believed that priests prepared before they performed sacred rites and ceremonies.

Inihuatana

Also known as “the hitching post of the sun”, this magnificent carved rock was symbolically tied to the sun on the winter solstice. This stone and others like it are thought to have been used for making astrological observations and for calculating important phases of the year. Archeologists continue to explore the various angles and surfaces of the rock to derive how this Inihuatana and others like it were used in this regard.

Machu Picchu Civil Structures

Agricultural Sector

Upon entry to the ruins, visitors are first greeted by the extensive Agricultural terracing that flank the southern side of Machu Picchu. These grand stone terraces would have been used to cultivate maize for consumption by the entire population of the city. Modern surveys reveal that the city would have sustained a population of 1,000 people through the crops that would have been grown here. The terracing is so durable that locals were still farming centuries later when Bingham arrived in 1913.

Living Quarters

A large part of the city acted as living quarters for the many people who permanently lived at the site, and several houses were constructed in this respect. The Eastern side of the ruins appears as a labyrinth of such buildings which include terraced housing alongside larger communal areas that were used for preparing food, cooking and dining

There was also a section built to accommodate visiting Royalty; the royal quarters can be found amidst the cluster of religious structures on the western side of the ruins. These are distinguished by their spaciousness and by large stone lintels above the doors which it is known was a characteristic in the homes of more powerful people.