"The Incas loved perfection. Machu Picchu, though small, was able to grab this glory."



Reaching Machu Picchu
September 1, 2000


(When I find an Internet connection this will be one of a series of mini historical reports on Peru.)




Peru is famous for Cuzco, the capital of the fallen Inca Empire, and Cuzco is famous for Machu Picchu, the incredible and all inspiring "lost city of the Incas!" In this my second visit to Machu Picchu in 29 years (I came here when I was a City College student many years ago) once more I felt the power. Once more, and quite speechless, I was able to appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of this majestic place.

"Looking into and around Machu Picchu we see nothing but stones. Stones of all sizes and dimensions."

Moving among tourists from all over the world, I remembered the time I first perused the cultural intricacies of this great city of stone. Through these spaces that knew more glorious times, one is always able to perceive the Inca's fascination with nature, evidenced first by the physical location of the city itself, and second by the magnificent topography of the Machu Picchu environs. With even higher mountains and snow-covered peaks, on is able to perceive volumes spoken to the soul. This was a people that chose to live in total harmony with the dictates of Nature.

"Many ancient cities today are dusty and fallen worlds. Machu Picchu will be there forever."

Looking into and around Machu Picchu we see nothing but stones. Stones of all sizes and dimensions. There is even one wall built from a single massive rock with trapezoidal windows cut into it! I liked seeing and even touching that stone. It was so smooth to the touch and seemed to stand so proud. No earthquake, no century, no war, has been able to knock this city down. Many ancient cities today are dusty and fallen worlds. Machu Picchu will be there forever.

Linked to the worship of water, one is able to count sixteen small ritual baths in the holy city. To Incas, too, there was no life on earth without precious water. Water, thus, was like the life-giving Sun that merited devotion and unswerving reverence. The Theocratic State demanded serious investigation from thinkers and intellectuals. The result was astronomical knowledge (the summer solstice) that led to prosperous agricultural times. If one knows the exact duration of the seasons (by possessing knowledge of solar movement) then one knows when to sow grain and when not to.




"Spiritual visitors of all times will forever find within its walls the complex beauty and spirituality of a people that will never be forgotten."






Thus stands gloriously the Temple of the Three Windows and of The Sun, which also served as an astronomical observatory. These buildings and the Machu Picchu general architectural design reveal a magical fascination with engineering. The Incas loved perfection. Machu Picchu, though small, was able to grab this glory. Spiritual visitors of all times will forever find within its walls the complex beauty and spirituality of a people that will never be forgotten.

Report from Machu Picchu, Peru
Prof. Anibal J. Rosario