File:The myths of Mexico and Peru (1913) (14783783042).jpg

Identifier: mythsofmexicoper01spen (find matches)
Title: The myths of Mexico and Peru
Year: 1913 (1910s)
Authors: Spence, Lewis, 1874-1955
Subjects: Indians of Mexico Indian mythology Indians of Mexico Indians of South America Indian mythology Indians of South America
Publisher: New York, T. Y. Crowell company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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which obtain at the presenttime. In face of these facts the position of Tiahuanacoremains an insoluble riddle. Sacsahuaman and Ollantay Other remains of these prehistoric people are foundin various parts of Peru. At Sacsahuaman, perched ona hill above the city of Cuzco, is an immense fortifiedwork six hundred yards long, built in three lines of wallconsisting of enormous stones, some of which are twenty-seven feet in length. Pissac is also the site of wonder-ful ruined masonry and an ancient observatory. AtOllantay-tampu, forty-five miles to the north of Cuzco,is another of these gigantic fortresses, built to defendthe valley of the Yucay. This stronghold is constructedfor the most part of red porphyry, and its walls averagetwenty-five feet in height. The great cliff on whichOllantay is perched is covered from end to end withstupendous walls which zigzag from point to point ofit like the salient angles of some modern fortalice.At intervals are placed round towers of stone provided250
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a aS t 2 i o c THE DRAMA-LEGEND OF OLLANTAY with loopholes, from which doubtless arrows weredischarged at the enemy. This outwork embraces aseries of terraces, world-famous because of theirgigantic outline and the problem of the use to whichthey were put. It is now practically agreed that theseterraces were employed for the production of maize, inorder that during a prolonged investment the beleagueredtroops and country-folk might not want for a sufficiencyof provender. The stone of which this fortress wasbuilt was quarried at a distance of seven miles, in aspot upwards of three thousand feet above the valley,and was dragged up the steep declivity of Ollantay bysheer human strength. The nicety with which thestones were fitted is marvellous. The DramaLegend of Ollantay Among the dramatic works with which the ancientIncas were credited is that of Apu-Ollanta^ which mayrecount the veritable story of a chieftain after whomthe great stronghold was named. It was probablydivided into scenes

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