Page 58 - A History of the World in 25 Cities

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At its height, the Inca Empire ruled over five million people and was the largest ever seen in the Americas. At the very heart of the empire was
its extraordinary capital of Cuzco. It was a fantastic mountain city of palaces and
an amazing golden temple, laid out in the shape of a puma, one of the
Inca’s sacred animals.
Home to the emperor or Sapa Inca. Each emperor built his
own palace in the city, so the number gradually increased.
This circular weapons store was the tallest building in Cuzco.
Seats carved into natural rock. These were said to have been used by Inca nobles during important ceremonies.
This fortress is located 230 metres above the city. Its walls are constructed with huge stone boulders, some weighing 230 tonnes. It is said that the fortress forms the head and jaws of the city’s puma shape.
Cuzco was the centre of the Inca universe, and this large square, or plaza, was at the centre of Cuzco.
High up in the Andes Mountains is the puma-shaped city of Cuzco. The fortress temple of Sacsayhuamán makes up the puma’s head, while two rivers outline the shape of its body.
Covered with fine white sand that had been brought from the coast; gold, silver and precious shells were buried here during special religious ceremonies.