Are there different theories of the origin of Machu Picchu?

Peru counts with one of the most popular destinations in the world; this is the Last City of the Incas. Among a lot of great places to visit; Machu Picchu was recognized as a World Wonder some years ago

But, what about this amazing place? when it comes down to actually visiting the site, there’s usually one question on everyone’s minds when walking through this elaborate city made of blocks of stone that were cut, aligned and fit so tightly together that not even a knife’s blade could fit between them were by. So strange because the Incas who had no iron, no steel, no cements and no wheels The Incas who had no iron, no steel, no cements and no wheels

Since the discovery of the citadel, there have been a lot of theories. As National Geographic mentioned: During his lifetime, Bingham, of Yale University, had two theories regarding the purpose of Machu Picchu. The first—that it was the birthplace of Inca society—came about when he was led to the site by local farmers in 1911.

Bingham later modified that theory and suggested the site was also the legendary “lost city” of Vilcabamba la Vieja, where the last of the independent Inca rulers waged a lengthy battle against Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century.

Also was mentioned that Machu Picchu Was a Holy Nunnery and that it was a Royal Retreat

Bingham also speculated that Machu Picchu might have been a temple devoted to the Virgins of the Sun, a holy order of chosen women dedicated to the Inca sun god, Inti.

This theory was largely based on dozens of skeletons Bingham’s team found buried at the site. U.S. osteologist George Eaton said in the early 20th century that the remains were nearly all females.

Verano’s interpretation of the Machu Picchu skeletons is consistent with one of the most popular theories about the site: that it was the royal retreat of the 15th-century Inca Emperor Pachacuti.

According to this idea, Machu Picchu was a place for Pachacuti and his royal court, or panaca, to relax, hunt, and entertain guests.

machupicchu

Machu Picchu Was a Re-creation of the Inca Creation Myth. Other scholars have speculated that the Inca had a more spiritual purpose in mind when they built Machu Picchu.

A 2009 study by Giulio Magli, an astrophysicist at the Polytechnic Institute in Milan, Italy, postulated that the site was a scaled-down version of a mythic landscape from the Inca religion.

Peruvian archaeologist Cock noted that unlike many cultures today, the Inca did not distinguish between church and state, so the notion that a site could serve dual purposes would not have been unusual.

“For the Incas, the two ideas were integrated,” he said. “Anywhere the emperor lived was sacred, because he was sacred.”

Many modern-day archaeologists now believe that Machu Picchu served as a royal estate for Inca emperors and nobles. Others have theorized that it was a religious site, pointing to its proximity to mountains and other geographical features that the Incas held sacred

Also were said that the citadel was a fortress. The inaccessibility of Machu Picchu makes for a natural hideout to protect the Sapa Inca and his family from invaders. To protect the city the Incas built a 6-meter tall by 1.8-meter-wide wall that surrounded the city.

Finally, Machu Picchu is of such incredible size, proportion, and architectural sophistication that it’s hard to imagine that it was built by a race that had not yet discovered the wheel or iron tools or bulldozers and cranes.

And then eventually the extraterrestrial marched back into their ship and went back to Mars or wherever they came from, leaving behind evidence of their damn fine engineering prowess. It’s far-fetched but would explain the advanced technical skill and understanding of astronomy evident in the city as well as the subsequent mysterious abandonment.

In any case and regardless of theories, visiting Machu Picchu is a must that every human being must have in his life

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