The Pachacamac Archaeological Sanctuary, is the most important temple of the Peruvian coast, to which many people from different towns went on pilgrimage. This sanctuary was considered the most important, since Pachacamac was considered a very powerful oracle, who could reveal the future and with a single movement of the head was able to cause tremors in the earth and certainly a sacred space that you can not miss.
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The Sanctuary of Pachacamac was one of the most important temples, it was the most valuable religious center of the coastal cultures.
Pachacamac, which also means "Soul of the Earth", was very venerated, according to theories this temple was even visited by people from the highlands, who came in search of answers and solutions to their problems.
After archaeological investigations it is known that this temple was built during the Late Formative period, as well as a cemetery was discovered in which were found the remains of settlers who were possibly engaged in fishing and agriculture.
Evidence was found that in this place from 600 to 1100 A.D. there was contact and influence of the Wari in Lurin and Pachacamac.
Around 1100 A.D. The Ychsma people chose Pachacamac as an administrative and power center, thus initiating the construction of administrative and military enclosures and elite residences, as well as the pyramids with ramps characteristic of the Ychsmas.
In 1470 the Incas established Pachacamac as an important capital in the coastal towns, where they also left important buildings characteristic of the Inca culture, such as the Temple of the Sun and Acllahuasis.
In 1533, during the time of the invasion, it was recorded in the writings of the chroniclers, that Pachacamac was the most relevant religious center of the Peruvian coasts and that the worship to the Andean gods was still maintained until much later, during the colony.
A few years ago, during excavations and studies, it was determined that Pachacamac was conquered by the Incas in the year 1471 approximately. Evidence was found that a large entourage from the city of Cusco came to Pachacamac with offerings and tributes, to worship the most important god of the coast, this was a strategy that the Incas performed in order to form alliances with other peoples and thus expand the empire and Inca domains.
Later, after reaching agreements with the coastal peoples, the Ychsmas allowed the construction of an Inca temple dedicated to the Sun God or also called Punchao Cancha and the worship of Pachacama was respected.
The Temple of the Sun is located in the highest part of the sanctuary, with classic Inca architecture, a wide entrance in trapezoidal form of double jamb, which is typical of religious style buildings. Additionally, the temple has 6 platforms, and on the west side are the trapezoidal niches facing the sea, sector in which the archaeologist Max Uhle found a cemetery of sacrificed women, which probably belonged to the elite, by the elaborate burials and fine trousseau of clothing, ceramics and jewelry with which they were buried.
Pachacamac is located on the south side of the city of Lima, in the district of Lurin.
To get to the temple of Pachacamac, you have to take the Via Evitamiento and the Panamericana South from the city of Lima until kilometer 39.
The attention at the archaeological site is from Tuesday to Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm and Sundays from 9 am to 4 pm.
The price of the tickets is:
