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| Submitted by | ivanjohnson |
| Added | Oct 15 2007 |
| Hits | 1724 |
| Votes | 1 |
Description
A third altar up the ridge from the second altar, which can be seen here in the background
Posted Comments:
AngieLake (2007-10-15)
I've never been to Macchu Pichu, but this pic reminded me of it. I wonder if the dizzying drops by each altar had anything to do with sacrifices to the 'gods'? (Not a very nice thought, but you *do* wonder!)
ivanjohnson (2007-10-16)
It's quite possible that they were, uh, integral to the process. I was going to say that the altar I'm calling Altar 2 is about the most spectacular and mysterious-looking megalithic work I've seen since I first saw the Intikala at Macchu Picchu which I still find to be the most spectacular and mysterious-looking megalith. Though smaller-scale, this area is up there in that quality range. You have to see this cliff dropoff - the other side of that handrail is literally straight down a long way to craggy rocks below. These pictures don't do it justice. The entire rock ridge that the town sits beneath is beautiful and the whole area is uniformly peppered with interesting ancient things.
ivanjohnson (2007-10-16)
Altar 2 is on the far left here, and altar 1 is on that stone peak in the background which is also quite interesting.
imp (2007-10-19)
Are the altars connected to water?
ivanjohnson (2008-02-23)
Not noticeably. They are all near the summits of these outcroppings. But there is some higher ground around them so they may have had tanks uphill but I wouldn't assume so. It honestly appears as if they were all used to sacrifice something and then throw it off the cliff. There are some long channels cut into the rock down from the altars which are reminiscent of the Peruvian blood channels which seem designed to distribute fluids over the rock in what?, geomantic patterns? Who knows. BTW, I'm not into bloodthirstyness, I like this stuff for the same reason I like pirates - I'm interested in 'outsider' groups and their customs, and the strange "hallowed ways of our ancestors".
This 'blood on rocks' idea seems like it's all over central and south American megalithic culture too. Has anyone written a thesis on ancient spilling of blood onto specially carved rock altars?
This 'blood on rocks' idea seems like it's all over central and south American megalithic culture too. Has anyone written a thesis on ancient spilling of blood onto specially carved rock altars?
Giuseppa (2011-10-30)
This particular altar was used for human sacrifices. It was used until San Pellegrino slayed the dragon (serpent) and ended the human sacrifices.
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