Cusco II - Saqsaywamán and the Yearly Reenactment of Inti Raymi

Inti Raymi - Inca Sun Festival
Originally uploaded by louise_parmenter

The ruins of Saqsaywamán comprise a religious centre and military base where the Incas fought off the Conquistadores before eventually being defeated in a very bloody battle, hence the Quechua name meaning ¨satisfied falcon´, referring to the swarms of carrion-eating condors that scavenged the battlefield. The 9th Inca king, Pachacutec, envisioned Cusco in the shape of a puma and Saqsaywamán´s 3-tiered zigzagged walls form the teeth. The ruins are the stage for the yearly reenactment of Inti Raymi, the Inca Sun Festival.

Here are the photos of this very colourful event, performed in the Quechuan language and viewed by thousands of Cuscan locals and tourists alike.