WELCOME TO
THIS POST!
A LOVELY FLOWER, THE AMARANTH!
This plant grows near Cuzco, Peru
Click to enlarge
Source: Ghislain118, CC BY 3.0. Wikimedia Commons
WHAT IS
MOREY?
Moray is a
huge complex of terraces built by the Inca near the village of Maras, which is
quite close to Cuzco and also close to the Urumbamba River.
The fact
that the Inca civilization did not have a writing system has caused this site
to be rather enigmatic. There is no definite evidence as to the reason for its
construction.
The complex
was carefully positioned in the site of a natural hollow among the mountains; the
Inca always tried to build in harmony with natural features.
The
original hollow was enlarged to include several rows of circular andenes or terraces, all of which seem
to have involved large movements of earth and stone.
Each level
is provided with irrigation through perfectly engineered canals that still
work, and the drainage is superb, as usual: no water collects at the bottom of this
circular amphitheater.
The Inca
certainly knew their business when it came to constructing enormous complexes
that were practically earthquake proof and flood proof.
AN OVERVIEW OF PART OF THE MORAY COMPLEX
++McKay+Savage,+CC+BY+2.0+Wikim.+Comm.jpg)
Click to enlarge
Source: McKay Savage, CC BY 2.0. Wikimedia Commons
A PARTIAL VIEW OF THE ANDENES OF THE COMPLEX
Click to enlarge
Source: McKay Savage, CC BY 2.0. Wikimedia Commons
LOCATION OF MORAY IN THE URUBAMBA VALLEY
Click to enlarge
Source: pandrcutts, CC BY 2.0. Flickr
WHAT WAS
THE FUNCTION OF THIS COMPLEX?
Experts have
not been able to agree on this one at all. Some think it was mainly a place of
worship, while others argue that it was an experimental greenhouse for
developing and optimizing various agricultural species.
In my
opinion, it could well have been used both for experimentation and for worship.
The religious beliefs of the Andean people have always been strongly centered
on the forces of nature and on maintaining harmony within natural processes.
Besides,
the acoustics in that place are superb! Even today, ceremonies are celebrated
today in honor of the Pachamama, the Earth Godess.
However, it
definitely was planned for more than worship, considering the fact that the
temperature and wind conditions vary throughout the various levels, so that the
bottom ones are warmer than the top ones.
Present day
records show that the temperature difference is as much as 60ºF or approximately
33ºC.
Experts say
that the different zones of the complex reproduce the various climatic conditions
of costal, Andean and semi-tropical climate; analysis of the pollen discovered
there show that there were also multiple species planted on the various levels
and zones.
In
addition, vertical stones were placed in positions that would help record various
agriculturally important dates such as the equinoxes and the solstices.
At the
height of the Inca Empire, the Andean people had developed over 3,000 varieties
of edible potatoes and at least 150 types of corn.
Nobody knows
how this was done, but I’m betting it was done at Moray!
AN INTERESTING VIEW OF THE MORAY COMPLEX.
The flying steps can be clearly seen
++McKay+Savage,+CC+BY+2.0.+Wikim.+Comm.jpg)
Click to enlarge
Source: McKay Savage, CC BY 2.0. Wikimedia Commons
DETAILS OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TERRACES AND FLYING STEPS
Click to enlarge
Source: Manco Capac, CC BY SA 3.0. Wikimedia Commons
CELEBRATING PACHAMAMA AT MORAY
An incredible video. Listen to the accoustics!
I hope you
enjoyed this post! See you on the next one!
SPANISH
VERSIONS
(This Blog is Bilingual)
LAS MISTERIOSAS CONSTRUCCIONES DE MORAY EN PERU.
Este enorme complejo está ubicado cerca del pueblo de Maras
y del Rio Urubamba, según se aprecia en el mapa presentado más arriba.
Se encuentra también bastante cerca de Cuzco, el centro del
poder en el Imperio Inca.
Debido a que esta civilización carecía de escriture, las instalaciones
en Moray han resultado un tanto enigmáticas.
Los andenes están construidos con toda la tecnología de los
Inca: son asísmicos, tienen canales de regadío y los sistemas de drenaje son
extraordinarios.
Se cree que este fue un centro de experimentación agrícola,
debido principalmente a que los distintos sectores configuran diversos
microclimas que en general reproducen las distintas zonas agrícolas del Perú:
costa, altiplano y selva.
Se ha comprobado que hay variaciones importantes en las temperaturas
entre un nivel y otro, lo que es coherente con la presencia de los microclimas.
Pero además, al parecer ahí también se realizaban ceremonias
con ofrendas para la Pachamama. Estas ceremonias todavía se realizan con gran
colorido, en determinadas fechas del año.
La acústica en el “anfiteatro” es increíble, por tanto también
parece que esto entraba en los planes de construcción.
Ambas funciones no son contradictorias, por cuanto las
creencias religiosas de los pueblos Andinos están estrechamente vinculadas a
los fenómenos naturales y al paso de las estaciones y sus relaciones con la
producción agrícola.
Es sabido que los Inca desarrollaron sobre 3.000 variedades
de papa y más de 150 variedades de maíz. Estas especies fueron creadas a partir
de plantas silvestres que eran mucho más pequeñas.
Nadie sabe exactamente como lo lograron, pero apuesto a que
lo hicieron en el centro experimental de Moray!
Espero les haya gustado este post!
More about similar topics in a future post. Más sobre temas similares en un próximo post.
LANGUAGE TIPS FOR ENGLISH
Words that go together! * Late 20th century - * Go to
war - * Keep an appointment
LANGUAGE
TIPS FOR SPANISH.
Expresiones
de uso frecuente: * Agua que no has de beber, déjala correr -
* Irse con la
música a otra parte
How is your level of comprehension? ¿Cómo
está su nivel de comprensión?
© 2013
joanveronica (Joan Robertson)
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