User:Oreanafig/Tiwanaku

To ancient Andean cultures, mountains were considered venerated^[1], and could even be considered as a holy or sacred object. The site of Tiawanaku is at the highest elevation of any known Andean civilization, and sits in the valley between two sacred mountains; Pukara and Chuqi Q’awa.Temples found in the Andean mountains would be the location of ceremonies to pay gratitude and honor to the gods and spirits^[2]. Locations like Tiawanaku would be a place of worship that would help unify Andean peoples through shared symbolism, and would be considered an epicenter of pilgrimage, worship, and ritual acts.

Tiwanaku rose as the center of religious ceremonies for pre-Columbian civilizations. These ceremonies would often times be big dramatizations for both the general public and elites to experience. Some ritual acts that have taken place at Tiwanaku were human sacrifices.Human sacrifice was used in several pre-Columbian civilizations; typically to serve the purpose of appeasing a god in return of good fortune. The Akapana temple was used for several ceremonies and sacrificial dedications at Tiwanaku. Researchers have found the remains of elaborate dedications involving humans and camelids while excavating the Akapana temple.^[3]

Although researchers speculate that the Akapana temple was used for ceremonial rituals, it may have also been used as an observatory of the cosmos. The Akapana temple is alligned in a way that it is alligned with the peak of Quimsachata, which conveniently gives it an ideal view of the rotation of the Milky Way from the southern pole^[4]. Other temples like Kalasasaya have an idealized view of the sunrises of the Equinox, Summer Solstice, and Winter Solstice. However, it is difficult for researchers to understand what symbolic and functional value these monuments had to the Tiwanaku. That being said, the Tiwanaku were able to study and interpret the positions of the sun, moon, Milky Way and other celestial bodies well enough for them to have significance in their architecture and monuments. ^[5].

Aymara legends place Tiwanaku at the center of the universe. This is likely due to the importance of its geographical location. The Tiwanaku were highly aware of their natural surroundings and would use their landscape and understanding of astrology as a point of reference in their architectural plans. The most significant landmarks on Tiwanaku are the mountains and Lake Titicaca. ^[6]Lake Titicaca is located just 20 kilometers west of Tiwanaku. However, Lake Titicaca has since retracted in size due to drought. Before, Lake Titicaca likely met the shores of Tiwanaku. The spiritual value of the lake, along with its location, helped to give more religious significance to the site of Tiwanaku. In the Tiwanaku worldview, Lake Titicaca is the spiritual birthplace of their cosmic beliefs^[7]. According to Inca mythology, Lake Titicaca is the birthplace of the great creator Viracocha. Viracocha was responsible for creating the sun, moon, people, and the cosmos. Viracocha is considered to be one of the most important deities and has been seen depicted in several ancient Andean civilizations including the Inca, Moche, and Tiwanaku. At Tiwanaku, in the Kalasasaya temple, is located a monolith known as the Gate of the Sun. Atop this monolith is carved a deity seen holding a lightning bolt and snuff. Many speculate that this is a representation of Viracocha because this figure is depicted wearing a sun crown. However, it is possible that this figure is a representation of a deity that the Aymara refer to as “Tunuupa”. Tunuupa holds several similarities to Viracocha like legends associated with creation and destruction.

The Aymara are thought to be descendants of the Tiwanaku. The Aymara have a complex cosmic belief system that is similar to the cosmology of several Andean civilizations. The Aymara believe in the existence of three spaces; The Arajpacha: the upper world, Akapacha: the middle world or the inner world, and Manqhaoacha: the lower world.^[8] The upper world is considered to be where celestial beings live and is often associated with the cosmos and Milky Way. The middle world is where all living things are, and the lower world is where life itself is inverted^[9]. Aspects of this belief system can be found decorated on the monuments of Tiwanaku. Birds, for example are representative of the upper world. Symbols of some birds known as camelids can be found decorated on the Gate of the Sun. Symbolism for the underworld is often times represented by reptiles and things from the ocean. Some researchers speculate that the "underworld" is representative of more than just death, and could be a representation of things found "below"--and for highland societies, things "below" could be considered to be in places like the ocean. At Tiwanaku, representations of snakes can be found on the Fraile Monolith^[10]. The middle world is usually represented by pumas or jaguars. In cultures like the Moche and Inca, the puma is a representation of strength or new life^[11]. Typically these elements found in Andean artwork can help represent folklore or be considered messages to observers. For example, the Fraile Monolith is a unique monolith found in the Kalasasaya temple. This monolith is not completely recognizable due years of damage. However, symbolism of snakes have been found decorated across the sides of it. This may follow the creation legend of Viracocha rising from Lake Titicaca.