[deanmine]

(Pre-Inca Mountain Citadel)



Ollantaytambo is a Pre-Inca fortress, with rock walls of tightly fitted blocks weighing upto 150 tons each. Most of the blocks consist of (Hard Andesite), (Red Porphyry), the quarries for which are situated on a mountain-top a few miles distant. As well as the difficulties that must have been experienced in dressing the stones, they had to be lowered down one mountain, over a river canyon with 1000 ft sheer rock walls, then raised up the mountain the complex is situated on.

Ollantaytambo was the royal estate of Emperor Pachacuti who conquered the region, built the town and a ceremonial centre.

The complex was still under construction at the time of the conquest and was never completed. After Manco Inca was defeated by the Spanish at Sacsayhuaman following the unsuccessful siege of Cusco (1536) he retreated to Ollantaytambo. Francisco Pizarro's younger brother Hernando led a force of 70 cavalry, 30 foot soldiers and a large contingent of natives to capture Manco Inca.

The Inca's forces, joined by neighbouring jungle tribes, rained down showers of arrows, spears and rocks upon the unfortunate Spanish troops. In an intelligent move the Inca's flooded the plains below their stronghold making it difficult for the horses to manoeuvre.

Hernando, uncharacteristically, ordered a hasty retreat. Ollantaytambo became the only place ever to have resisted attacks from the Spanish. However, their victory was short-lived when the Spanish returned with four times their previous force.

Manco Inca retreated to his jungle stronghold in Vilcabamba and Ollantaytambo fell into the hands of the Spanish.

These 'Metal-Ties' were used to secure blocks together. They are a common construction feature throughout the ancient world, but the ones from Ollantaytambo (left) are an almost exact match with similar ties found at Tiahuanaco (right). This construction feature is also common in Egypt.

[kellyhound]

always the egypt connection and all quite mysterious

[deanmine]

come for the drugs.... stay for the gods.... thats what i figure...the key diffrence between the connection. and there is a connection but they built for compleatly diffrent resons.. but they talked to each other..... for shure

[Shakey]

[dirty ike]

Great post , thanks.

[Kelseecat65]