Tiwanaku is an archaeological wonder located in western Bolivia. The ruins are located to the south east of Lake Titicaca. The first mention of the site was by Cieza de Leon who stumbled on the pre-Columbian ruins in 1549. This site appears to be the home of the god Viracocha. (Read down for more on this!)
The stone architecture is very different from the style of the later Incans. The monumental stones and giant monoliths were held together with copper bars in the shape of an “L” and the rectangular blocks were fitted together with precision. The stones would have been quarried at least 40 km away from the site.
The buildings include elaborate drainage systems, stepped platforms and a semi-subterranean temple all with intricate carvings.
The Gateway of the Sun
One of the most striking structures is the “Gateway of the Sun.” This gateway features a carving of Viracocha, the God of action and destroyer of many worlds.
Viracocha
The legends, past down through the generations of natives in the area was scribed and published by Pedro Sarmiento De Gamboa in 1907.
Here is a jaw dropping snippet of the legend of Viracocha: “THE NATIVES OF THIS LAND affirm that in the beginning, and before this world was created, there was a being called Viracocha. He created a dark world without sun, moon or stars. Owing to this creation he was named Viracocha Pachayachachi, which means “Creator of all things.” And when he had created the world he formed a race of giants of disproportioned greatness painted and sculptured, to see whether it would be well to make real men of that size. He then created men in his likeness as they are now; and they lived in darkness.
Viracocha ordered these people that they should live without quarrelling, and that they should know and serve him. He gave them a certain precept which they were to observe on pain of being confounded if they should break it. They kept this precept for some time, but it is not mentioned what it was. But as there arose among them the vices of pride and covetousness, they transgressed the precept of Viracocha Pachayachachi and falling, through this sin, under his indignation, he confounded and cursed them. Then some were turned into stones, others into other things, some were swallowed up by the earth, others by the sea, and over all there came a general flood which they call uñu pachacuti, which means “water that overturns the land.” They say that it rained 60 days and nights, that it drowned all created things, and that there alone remained some vestiges of those who were turned into stones, as a memorial of the event, and as an example to posterity, in the edifices of Pucara, which are 60 leagues from Cuzco.”
The Gateway of the Sun
