Ingapirca

The largest known Inca ruins in Ecuador, Ingapirca was first a sacred ceremonial site of  the Cañari. Much of what is known about the site was actually shared through the oral history by the indigenous Cañari who still live in the surrounding communities.

Inca Sun Temple - Round Structure, Square Stones

It was interesting to see the difference in construction techniques as the Cañari were round-stone-and-mortar folks and the Inca are precisely-cut-square-stone people. Because both cultures are astronomy based, there is much overlap in their traditions especially as related to planting, harvest and tracking the passage of time.

The Sun Temple was so well constructed that only 5% needed to be restored. The rest of the structure has remained intact since the 15th century!

High Priestess Burial Site

There is a Cañari ceremonial burial site which predates the Inca. During excavation the body of a Cañari priestess was found surrounded by eleven slaves. While the priestess was dead prior to burial, the slaves were alive - although they were given a sedative. It was considered an honor to accompany the priestess in death to be her servant in the afterlife. Uh huh, as if they had a choice!

The Cañari were historically a matriarchal society and primarily worshiped the moon. In contrast, the Inca were a patriarchal society and worshiped the sun.

Cañari Calendar

Both marked the passage of time by tracking shadows. The Cañari used rocks with depressions. When the depressions were filled with water they would observe the reflection of the sun on the water. Fortunately for them it rains daily at Ingapirca!

The Inca built the Sun Temple so that the summer solstice sun hit precisely the right spot to illuminate the wall of statues honoring other gods.

There is also a stone erected by the Cañari, but used by both cultures, that acts as a sundial. The fields were planted based on the shadow cast by the dial.