Note 454 — Chapter XCII

The most detailed account of ancient Cuzco is to be found in the pages of the Ynca historian. He says that the first houses were built on the steep slopes of the Sacsahuaman hill. The city was divided into two parts, Hanan-Cuzco (upper or north) and Hurin-Cuzco (lower or south). The chief ward or division was on the slopes of Sacsahuaman, and was called Collcam-pata. Here Manco Ccapac built his palace, the ruins of which are still in good preservation; and the great hall, where festivals were celebrated on rainy days, was entire in the days of Garcilasso. The next ward, to the east, was called Cantut-pata (“the terrace of flowers”); then came Puma-curcu (“lion’s beam”), so called from a beam to which wild animals were secured; then Toco-cachi (“window of salt”); then, further south, Munay-sencca (“loving nose”); then Rimac-pampa (“speaking place”), where ordinances were promulgated, close to the temple of the sun, at the south end of the city; then Pumap-chupan (“lion’s tail”), where the two streams of Huatanay and Rodadero unite, and form a long promontory, like a tail. To the westward there was a division called Chaquill-chaca; and next to it, on the north, were others called Pichu and Quillipata. Finally, the division known as Huaca-puncu (“holy gate”) adjoined the Collcampata on the west side.

The inner space, between the abovenamed divisions or suburbs, and extending from the Collcampata on the north to Rimac-pampa on the south, was occupied by the palaces and houses of the Ynca and his family, divided according to their Ayllus or lineages. This central part of the city was divided into four parts, called Hatun-cancha, containing the palace of Ynca Yupanqui; Puca-marca, where stood the palace of Tupac Ynca Yupanqui; Ynti-pampa, the open space in front of the temple of the sun; and Ccori-cancha, which was occupied by the temple of the sun itself. Immediately south of the Collcam-pata was the Sacha-huasi or college, founded by Ynca Rocca, where the Amautas or wise men resided. Near the college was the palace of Ynca Rocca, called Coracora, and another palace called Cassana,{a} the abode of the Ynca Pachacutec. The latter was so called because it would cause any one who saw it to freeze (cassa) with astonishment, at its grandeur and magnificence. These palaces looked upon the great square of the ancient city, called Huacay-pata (“the festive terrace”), which was two hundred paces long and one hundred and fifty broad from east to west. At the west end it was bounded by the Huatanay stream. At the south side there was another royal palace, called Amaru-cancha (“place of a serpent”), the residence of Huayna Ccapac, and south of the Anaru-cancha was the Aclla-huasi.

{a} The site is now occupied by the convent of San Francisco. or convent of virgins. West of the Huacay-pata was the Cusi-pata (“joyful terrace”), which was united with it, the Huatanay being paved over with large flagstones.

All the streets of modern Cuzco contain specimens of ancient masonry. Many of the stones have serpents sculptured in relief, and four slabs are to be seen, with figures—half bird, half man—carved upon them, with some pretence to artistic skill. The wall of the palace of Ynca Rocca is still very perfect. It is formed of huge masses of rock of various shapes, one of them actually having twelve sides, yet fitting into each other with marvellous accuracy. They are of a sombre hue, and have an imposing effect. With the exception, however, of this building, of the palace on the Collcampata, and of the fortress, which are in the Cyclopean style, all the ancient masonry of Cuzco is in regular parallel courses. The roofs were of thatch, but very neatly and carefully laid on, as may be seen in the specimen still existing at the Sondor-huasi of Azangaro (See note to p. 166), and the city must altogether have presented a scene of architectural grandeur and magnificence which was well calculated to astonish the greedy and illiterate conquerors.