It is located 2 Km. from the city of Cusco at a height of 3,700 meters above sea level. Saqsaywaman is composed etymologically of two words: Saqsay that means get stuffed and Huaman that means falcon or else Sajsa that means mottled and Huma that means head. The archaelogical site of Saqsaywaman is composed by the following sectors:

Suchuna: It is located in front of the bastions, this sector was dedicated to the god Rainbow or K’uichi and was constructed with carved flagstones forming stair-like signs.

Bastions: They are located to the front of the plains and are three walls commonly known as bastions composed of cyclopean stones, with polygonal bonds, some of the stones weigh as much as 90 to 125 tons, they are constructed in zigzag seeming a lighting bolt.

Towers: They are named Muyuccmarca, Paucarmarca, and Sallaqmarca. Muyuccmarca is located to the north, to the right side of the complex on the upper part of the bastions (zigzag walls). Etymologically Muyuq means round and Marca means town, These days, you can appreciate three circles of different dimensions with a series of channels having as function that of storage of grains as well as ceremonial, it is known by the Garcilaso de la Vega chronicle that in this place the Inca Cahuide jumped out from this tower in the war that Manco Inca held against the Spanish. Paucarmarca located to the south of Sayaqmarca is buried in the ground and could have been quadrangular. Etymologically means Paucar means joyful, cute, happy, garden and Marca means town. It is believed that it was dedicated to the stars. Sallaqmarca is located to the side of Muyuccmarca and in the middle of the three. Etymologically Sallaq means rough, rocky and Marca means town. The construction was rectangular and you can only see the foundations these days.

Doors: The are named T’iopunku (door of salt) Ajawanapunku (door where you can see the chicha) and Wiracochapunku (door of Wiracocha). They are located in the center of the bastions. They have a trapezoidal shape and were the entrance to the bastions.

Reservoir: It is located in the sector Suchuna named Cocha. It had a ritual function since in this place payments were held to call the water.

Saqsaywaman could have been a construction of religious character, although others say it had a military function. It could have been the location of the most important temple of the Hanan Qosqo (upper Cusco), dedicated to the veneration of the sun (Inti), moon (Quilla), venus (Chasqa), lighting bolt, thunder, and lighting (Illapa). It is referred that it was possibly constructed in the times of Inca Pachacuteq.

	Photo Gallery Saqsaywaman - Cusco

CIRCUIT 2
Saqsaywaman | Q´enqo | Puka Pukara | Tambomachay