Diario las Américas., 1958-05-13
Know thy
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By ANTONIO RUIZ

hNOW I'M NGlOAhDNN
PERU - At the upper end OF
the Watanay Valley, 1000 feet
above sea level. is the city OF Cuz-
co. the ancient capital OF the great
Inca Empire, the Oldest contlnu-
ously inhabited city in the Amerl-
a {. According to legends on the
origin of the Epire, Nance Capac
and his wife, Nina Ocllo, rose from
Lake Titlcaca to found Cuzco and
the Empire, which ono occupied
about 800, 900 square miles and ex-
tended from Chile to Colombia,
and from the Pacific coast to the
Amazon River, including Bolivia
and part of Argentina.
The site of the city must have
been chosen not only for its great
beauty, but for its Typographical
features, which facilitated the de-
tense of the capital against any
enemy attacks. II is surrounded
by high mountains and fortified
hills. The valley opened out from a
narrow defile in the sector OF An
gostura and in other directions,
the contours of the outlying coun-
try presented almost insuperable
physical barriers.
Nothing could be more pictures.
que than the natural setting OF
Cuzco. Towering snow capped
peaks, including gigantic Ausan-
gait and Salcantay, lie to the east
and west The lowlands are one
vast and beautiful mellow The
neighborlng highlands OF Upper
Cuzco form the plateau OF Salsa
Waman.
Cuzco was the model city of the
vast Empire. Its buildings, whether
civil, ecclesiastical or military,
were copiedas the dominion ex-
tended along the vast stretch be-
tween the Andes and the sea-
coast. Into Cuzo poured all the
wealth OF the Empire, for it was
actually the heart of the great ma
ton and was linked to its outposts
by four main arteries, stone high
ways leading to the most remote
corners of South America.
Although Cuzco has been de-
stroyed several times, the first
at a very remote age, and later as
a result of the Spanish occupation,
the city still preserves monuments
corresponding to the different pc
RODS of its history, each one OF
which the archaeologists have been
able to classify. The archaeologic-
al history of Cuzco is divided into
two great periods; the pre-Colum-
bian, or the period before the
discovery of America by Christie
pher Columbus in 1892, and the
post Columbian or colonial pc
riod, beginning with the conquest
of Peru by the Spaniards, and
ending with the complete indepen-
aence of the country in 1921.
On the hill to the northof Cuzo
is the great Citadel Of Sajsawaman.
It is an amazing feat OF architec-
ture, which in itself is enought to
attract tourists from all over the
world. Built in accordance with the
highest requirements OF military
technical construction, Sajsawa-
man was the stronghold of the CT
ty, a place of refuge both for the
Court and the clergy with their
gods and religious relics.
This fortress is protected by a
series of three walls which encircle
the hill, those facing the esplana-
da being the most massive. These
walls were constructed using enor-
nous stone blocks weighing many
tons each, placed with mathematic-
al precision, one on top of the
other, IN straight lines, all closely
Joined together, but without a
trace of cement or similar ma
terials. A sensation of immense
grandeur is evoked by a study of
the titanic work of the sturdy In
cas-, a work which defies ages and
teaches modern men a lesson on
ingenuity and will power.
Continued tomorrow
Spanish Version Page 3