Temple of the Condor
Listed under Ruined Temples in Sacred Valley, Peru.
The rock formation the Temple of the Condor sits on is condor-esque, but the Incas shaped it further so that it clearly depicts a condor in flight, wings outstretched. If you haven't got the gist there's a condor head carved into the floor, which it's suspected people used to be sacrificed over. The tour guides at Machu Picchu might tell you a sanitised version for the kiddies, but the human shaped grooves in the walls with the shackles and the walkway behind for back-whipping purposes, and the stone dish underneath, perfect for catching spilled blood, suggest that this was a prison and executioner's block and that the condor is a symbol of cruel justice.
It didn't take much to get yourself sacrificed either, lust, laziness and petty theft could all get you sent direct to the gods for punishment.
Under the temple there's a chamber with a mummy in it.
Written by 
Stuart James.
Comments, reviews and questions by other travellers
There are no posts. Why not be the first to have your say?
Who's been here
Similar Experiences
Temple of the Three Windows
Hiram Bingham thought the unusual large three window design of this temple were significant proof of how important Machu Picchu…
Ħaġar Qim
For such a small island, Malta has acres of history to show for itself, much of it showing though only a thin layer of soil or …
Aphrodisias
While staying in Pamukkale village it is easy and worthwhile to arrange a transfer to the ancient Roman city of Aphrodisias. It…
Nearby Experiences
Machu Picchu
The ruins of Machu Picchu, rediscovered in 1911 by Yale archaeologist Hiram Bingham, are one of the most beautiful ancient site…
The Inca Trail
I have to prefix any review on the Inca Trail with the knowledge that it has changed dramatically since I first travelled it in…
Machu Picchu on horseback
I could have found lots of reasons why I shouldn’t take up the offer to ride to Machu Picchu in Peru. The obvious one being the…
Related links
- Sacred Valley travel guide
- Peru travel guide
- Peru travel specialists
- The best Ruined Temples
- The best Temples
