The Temple of the Sun was a sacred enclosure built by the Incas to pay tribute and offer sacrifices to the sun in Machupicchu. This star was one of the most important deities of the Inca civilization. Thus, only the priests and elite of the empire could enter this temple

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Björn

June 12, 2020

The sun played a similarly central role in the Inca belief system as the mountains. The sun temple is therefore located in the urban core of Machu Picchu. Immediately next to it is the residence of the builder and Inca man Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui - which is also located in the southwestern part of Machu Picchu and is therefore separate from the other residential buildings of the social elite. Incidentally, the ruler not only had a spacious private garden, but also the only private sanitary facilities in all of Machu Picchu.
But despite the luxury of this ensemble, Machu Picchu also placed great value on the superiority of the gods over men: the stone work on the ruler's walls is obviously deliberately less detailed and opulent than that on the temple complex.

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Peter Franken

April 18, 2024

The Temple of the Sun was the first building we visited after the Inca Trail. The construction is very special and from here you have some great views in a 360 degree radius. It is also a strategically good starting point to begin your tour of Machu Picchu.

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Elevation 2,510 m

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Location: Machupicchu, Urubamba, Cusco, Peru

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