Cusco historic center

Name

The name of Cusco – the official Historical Capital of Peru – might be derived from Aymara language qusqu wanka ("Rock of the owl") but it could also mean "navel" in Quechua language.

Very often, especially in English, it is also spelled "Cuzco".

In the 1990s there was revived also the Quechua spelling of the city – "Qosqo", which often also is adjusted – "Qusqu". (2)

Location

The city is located high up in the Andes, at 3,400 m height. This is serious height – for example, water boils here at 89° C and most lowland people would suffer severe altitude sickness, if rised up here rapidly.

The city is located in a fertile valley fed by several rivers. The climate here is rather cool and tree line is close to this height.

Inca capital

Son of God – founder of the city

Cusco has a very special role in the legends of Inca – it reportedly was founded by the son of the god. This legend has diverse versions – here is just one:

Manco Cápac – son of the Sun God – with seven of his brothers and sisters was sent to the earth. They appeared from a mythical cave named Pacaritambo somewhere near Lake Titicaca. Manco Cápac (he is also called Ayar Auca) was carrying a golden staff – "tapac-yauri".

Manco Cápac was ordered to find a place for the temple of his father – and only a place where the golden staff would sink in the soil would be suitable for the temple.

When Manco Cápac reached the present-day Cusco, the staff went down with ease, but could not be pulled out – this was a sign that this land is fertile.

Thus was selected the location of the capital of Inca Empire – the navel of the world.

Killke time

In reality Cusco was not established by Inca. This honor goes to Killke culture – predecessors of Inca.

Killke arrived in the area of present day Cusco around 900 AD. It is not known when exactly Cusco started to develop – but in the 12th century Killke people built Sacsayhuamán – a megalithic fortress and shrine, which is located just some 900 m from the centre of contemporary Cusco.

Inca chieftain

Inca arrived here in the 12th century and took over the city.

Legends tell that the first Inca – Manco Cápac was a very successful ruler who created laws and abolished human sacrifice. These might be just legends, but it is well possible that there is some truth in this.

For some generations Cusco was a city of regional importance with the small Inca city-state around it. There were hostilities among the many Andean cultures and in the early 15th century Cusco was taken by the enemies of Inca – Chancas.

Pachacuti

An outstanding personality changed the course of history in these times. The young Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui led the resistance against Chancas. He managed to defeat enemies and drive them away from the Cusco valley.

Pachacuti took the throne in 1438 and with a great sucess extended the kingdom of Inca. He reigned until 1471 or 1472 and created Tawantinsuyu (Inca Empire) – the largest empire in pre-Columbian America.

Cusco now had another status – from a capital of small state it turned into a capital of glorious empire. An ambitious development was started by Pachacuti and continued by his successor – Tupac Yupanqui (1471 – 1493). According to legends in the works were involved some 50,000 people.

Ideal city

Pachacuti wanted to develop Cusco as an ideal city.

Saphi and Tullumayo rivers were diverted to stop the flooding.

City was strictly planned in an hierarchical way, dividing it in blocks. Many consider that in the plan the city was shaped like a lying puma. Centre served for administrative and religious needs.

Outlying areas of the city and satellite towns (Cayaucachi, Claquillchaca, Picchu, Quillipata, Carmenca, Huacapunco, etc.) served as service centres for agricultural, artisanal and industrial production.

The important buildings were built of precisely cut, polished andesite, diorite or granite blocks. Most buildings had one floor. Inca architecture is well adapted to withstand the earthquakes.

Important Inca buildings

The centre of the city and whole Inca Empire was Huaccapayta – present day Plaza de Armas. Next to it were standing many important buildings – Palace of Viracocha, Acclahuasi (Temple of the Sun Virgins where the most beautiful and virtuous noblewomen devoted themselves to the cult of the Sun God) and the most important temple – Coricancha (Temple of the Sun), which was adorned with golden sculptures.

Spanish times

Conquest

Unexpected events started in 1532. At the coasts of Peru landed people from another, highly developed civilization – Europeans. A group led by Francisco Pizarro started ambitious conquest, overtaken by epidemics brought by Europeans. Emperor Huayna Capac and his heir died from smallpox, civil war among Incas started. Spanish intruders managed to conquer the empire and to take Cusco.

The capital of Inca empire was turned into Spanish colonial centre in 1534.

Erasing of Inca heritage

Spaniards were impressed by Cusco. The planning of this highly organized city reminded the Renaissance ideal cities. There was no practical need to demolish and rebuild the city – in many ways it was similar to a modern European city.

The fierce resistance of Incas though led to another loss. In order to break the spirit of this nation Spaniards demolished the most important and beautiful Inca buildings in the city. Other, pompous Baroque style architecture came in place, mostly built on the original Inca fundament. Examples of such replacements are:

• Palace of Viracocha > Cathedral of Santo Domingo. This gorgeous and pompous building was started in 1560.
• Acclahuasi (Acllawasi, Temple of the Sun Virgins) > Santa Catalina Convent, built in 1601 – 1610.
• Coricancha (Temple of the Sun) > Santo Domingo de Guzmán Church and Convent, built in 1633 and reconstructed after the earthquake in 1680. Coricancha was rich with unique art and cultural values – unfortunately Spanish soldiers looted the golden artefacts. There exists though a legend about the priest Aramu Muru who escaped with a golden disc and disappeared through the mythical gate near Lake Titicaca.

After the earthquake in 1650 the city was modernized and most historical buildings were built in the time period between 1650 and 1700.

Remains of Inca architecture

The Spanish and Amerindian architecture in Cusco is beautiful – but this is scarce replacement to the loss of the Inca imperial architecture.

Much of the original Inca architecture though remains. Impressive is Hatun Rumiyoc Street going along the former palace of Inca Roca. It contains the stone of 12 angles – a proof of the stonemasonry skills of Inca.

At the base of Sacsayhuamán are located ruins of Colcampata – one of the oldest buldings in the city, possibly built in the 12th century.

And, of course – above the city rise the amazing ruins of Sacsayhuamán – the ancient fortress and shrine. The true meaning of this complex structure is not understood up to this day.

Peru

In 1821 there was declared independence of Peru. The fate of the new state was not easy, Peru was plagued by political instability and hostilities.

Economical stagnation often is beneficial for cultural values. The historical Cusco was conserved in time, the city gradually declined – but the original buildings remained almost intact.

Unfortunately the city suffered another devastating earthquake in 1950, ruining many historical buildings.

Quick urbanization of Cusco started only in the latest decades. This old city still seems rather introvert, the massive Inca stone walls and simple buildings seem to be undistinguished. But this unpretentious appearance hides unique values of culture.

References

1. City of Cusco, Advisory Body Evaluation for the inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Accessed in 21.03.2012.
2. Cusco or Cuzco, Which is it?, Cuzco Eats. Accessed in 23.03.2012.