Vilcashuamán or Vilcasguaman (from Quechua Willka Waman, "sacred hawk") is the capital of Vilcas Huamán Province, Ayacucho region, Peru. It is located at an altitude of 3,490 m on the eastern slopes of the Andes. It is located on an ancient archaeological site.
Vilcashuamán
Willka Waman (Quechua) | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Vilcashuamán Cathedral and the Temple of the Sun | |
  Vilcashuamán | |
| Coordinates: 13°39′11″S 73°57′14″W / 13.65311°S 73.95396°W | |
| Country | Peru |
| Region | Ayacucho |
| Province | Vilcas Huamán |
| Elevation | 3,490 m (11,450 ft) |
Vilcashuamán was an Inca administrative center, established after the Incas conquered the Chancas and the Pocras. According to the Chronicler Pedro Cieza de León, Vilcashuamán was home to 40,000 people.[1]: 235 The city was located around a large plaza where ceremonies involving sacrifices were performed, usually camelids or libation of corn wine. Around this plaza were the city's two most important buildings: the Sun Temple (Templo del Sol) and the Ushnu which remain to this day. It is believed that the city had the shape of a falcon, in which the Ushnu was located in the head.
The Ushnu is a truncated pyramid which is accessed through a double doorjamb, characteristic of the most important compounds. In its upper platform is a large stone with unique carvings that is known as the Seat of the Inca (Asiento del Inca); this seat, according to Cieza de León, was once covered with gold leaf.[1]: 233
Climate
edit| Climate data for Vilcashuamán, elevation 3,518 m (11,542 ft), (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 17.5 (63.5) |
17.5 (63.5) |
17.2 (63.0) |
17.5 (63.5) |
17.8 (64.0) |
17.4 (63.3) |
17.1 (62.8) |
17.7 (63.9) |
17.9 (64.2) |
18.9 (66.0) |
19.5 (67.1) |
18.3 (64.9) |
17.9 (64.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 5.5 (41.9) |
5.6 (42.1) |
5.6 (42.1) |
4.3 (39.7) |
1.5 (34.7) |
0.5 (32.9) |
0.1 (32.2) |
1.2 (34.2) |
3.0 (37.4) |
3.4 (38.1) |
4.0 (39.2) |
5.2 (41.4) |
3.3 (38.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 150.7 (5.93) |
154.7 (6.09) |
120.1 (4.73) |
37.3 (1.47) |
10.9 (0.43) |
5.5 (0.22) |
7.6 (0.30) |
13.5 (0.53) |
21.8 (0.86) |
31.7 (1.25) |
49.8 (1.96) |
102.2 (4.02) |
705.8 (27.79) |
| Source: National Meteorology and Hydrology Service of Peru[2] | |||||||||||||
References
edit- ^ a b Cieza de León, Pedro (2005 [1553]). Crónica del Perú - El señorío de los Incas - edited by Franklin Pease G.Y. - Fundación Biblioteca Ayacucho - Caracas - Venezuela ISBN 980-276-395-0
- ^ "Normales Climaticás Estándares y Medias 1991-2020". National Meteorology and Hydrology Service of Peru. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.