{"id":4640,"date":"2020-04-28T19:58:04","date_gmt":"2020-04-29T00:58:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/?p=4640"},"modified":"2026-05-12T09:55:37","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T14:55:37","slug":"qoricancha-the-golden-temple","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/qoricancha-the-golden-temple","title":{"rendered":"Qoricancha, The Golden Temple"},"content":{"rendered":"

Qoricancha, the archeological site<\/b><\/h2>\n

The word \u201cQoricancha\u201d is formed through a combination of two Quechua words: \u201cqori\u201d meaning gold, and \u201ccancha\u201d meaning open ground or enclosure. <\/span>Qoricancha is also known The Golden Temple. It was the most important religious and political temple for the Incas during Tawantinsuyu period.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Templo

Qoricancha or The Golden Temple was the most important religious and political temple for the Incas.<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n

Architecture:<\/b><\/h3>\n

It was built using the fine masonry skills for which the Inca have rightly become famous, the massive walls of the complex were built from large stone blocks finely cut and fitted together without mortar. Most walls leaned slightly inwards as they rose in height, a typical feature of Inca Architecture. Many trapezoid doorways and windows allowed access and light to enter the interior spaces and a broad band of gold was added mid-way height around the walls. The doors were also covered in gold sheets, as were the interiors and exteriors of the various temples and the inner side of the perimeter wall was even said to have been studded with emeralds.<\/span><\/p>\n

Qoricancha today:\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

Little remains today except some sections of its fine stone walls which hint at the site’s once massive size and the legendary stories which tell of the enormous quantity of gold used to decorate the temples and its golden garden. Many structures of the enclosure were destroyed. Today, only some of its constructions are maintained:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  • Rainbow temple<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    The rainbow was also worshiped by the Incas and had a dedicated temple as well. The upper part is distinguished by the shape of a rainbow, a phenomenon worshiped by the Incas because it came from the sun.<\/span><\/p>\n

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      Temple of the Sun<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Of all of Qoricancha, the Temple of the Sun was the most important. It was the main altar where the god Inti (Sun) represented in the god Wiracocha (main god of the Incas and other Andean cultures) was worshiped. During the Inca period this enclosure was covered by gold and other precious metals.<\/span><\/p>\n

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        Ray, Thunder and Lightning Enclosure\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        This rectangular enclosure has 3 doors for the ray, thunder and lightning.\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
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          Temple of Venus and Stars<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          As the Sun was God and the Moon was his wife, so the stars were the daughters of the Inca, and servants to the moon. The temple to celebrate the stars was close to the moon but was separated by a small alley, dedicated to Venus. Bone remains of auquenidos were found in a niche, so it is believed that animal sacrifices were made there.<\/span><\/h4>\n