Pachacamac Ruins

Pachacamac Ruins

Introduction

The Pachacamac Ruins emerged around 200 BC, flourished in the 15th century, and were destroyed by invading Spanish colonists in 1533. Located in the Lurín Valley more than 20 kilometers south of Lima, they hold an important place in the history of ancient Peruvian civilizations.

The Pachacamac Ruins were originally an earth temple dedicated to the earth deity by pre-Inca indigenous peoples. Later conquered by the Inca Empire, it became the most famous temple on Peru’s central coast, renowned for its solemnity, dignity, and grandeur. Pachacamac is an adobe and rammed-earth architectural complex. Its foundations are paved with stones, and its walls feature rows of trapezoidal window-like decorations that are narrower at the top and wider at the bottom. The tallest structure among them is called the Temple of the Sun (or Sun Temple), which stands six stories high, backs onto the sea, and was built atop a hill. Behind the main hall lies an observatory, used to observe the sun's movements to establish the lunar calendar.

On the lower side of the Sun Temple, there is also the Temple of the Moon. During the Inca period, this area housed beauties selected from nearby regions. They were chosen to enter the temple from the age of 9 and trained in various skills. As they grew up, the most beautiful could be selected as royal consorts, while those with slightly less striking looks served as palace maids or teachers. The corridors within the Temple of the Moon are like a labyrinth, and the temple also features pools and canals for the beauties to bathe in.

Lima, Peru