Machu Picchu

emperor’s eyrie
obscured by clouds and mountains
sun-blessed citadel

Kim M. Russell, 21^st May 2018

My response to Carpe Diem #1436 Machu Picchu … imagination-episode

Today we continue on our journey into the high mountains of the Andes and visit Machu Picchu, a 15th-century Inca citadel situated on a mountain ridge in the Cusco Region above the Sacred Valley.

Chèvrefeuille tells us that most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was constructed as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438–1472). It is the most familiar icon of Inca civilization, built around 1450 but abandoned a century later at the time of the Spanish Conquest. Although known locally, it remained unknown to the outside world until American historian Hiram Bingham brought it to international attention in 1911.

For today’s episode we have a photo for inspiration.