The Incas and the Sun: Solar Observing Methods and Inca Calendar
Keywords:
Inca astronomy, Inca calendar, solar observations.
Abstract
Yet since Prehistory humans have been captivated by the natural phenomena happening across the firmament, and above all the periodic movement of the Sun. Incas also felt this attraction. In this article we carry out a detailed and comparative study of the solar instruments descriptions that appear in three chronicles. We analyze contradictions between them and compared to the real observations that can be carried out in Cuzco. Solving this problem is essential in order to understand which level of astronomical knowledge Incas had achieved and how they applied it. They mainly carried out those solar observations with social and agricultural organization aims and used them in order to fix an official calendar. So, contradictions about Inca calendar between chronicles are also analyzed.Downloads
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How to Cite
Ortiz García E. (2012). The Incas and the Sun: Solar Observing Methods and Inca Calendar. Revista Española de Antropología Americana, 42(1), 127-143. https://doi.org/10.5209/rev_REAA.2012.v42.n1.38640
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