What was Machu Picchu's purpose and who lived there?

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Some specialists believe that Machu Picchu served as some sort of religious gathering place, a holy place.

Others affirm that it was a imperial residence, perhaps the great Emperor Pachacuti might have lived here. However, this is less likely, because there should have been more impressive structures, larger buildings for special people, like the ruler and his family.



We know for certain that hundreds of people could have lived up there in isolation. The agricultural terraces and the aqueducts were enough to ensure the live of a small community of several big families. Perhaps, indeed, it was several families who have retreated into this high plateau to live a more isolated, perhaps safer life?

The presence of many temples in the city underlines the religious importance of Machu Picchu. But this solely does not mean that it was a religious sanctuary or holy place. In Europe too, cities were full of churches with high towers, some cities had more churches than others and it still didn't make them religious cities. What we have to understand it that Incas were deeply religious, as ancient people were in general.

Many priests and rich Incas could have lived here in isolation, but there are also signs of the presence of lower rank people, like agricultural workers, who lived in the smaller houses, closer to the terraces.

Scientists have determined that approximately 750 people could have lived in good conditions on top of the mountain using the 140 buildings.

The city was self sufficient, well hidden, therefore several generations could have passed until the population has left it. It is possible that Machu Picchu was inhabited for 50 to 100 years (taking account of its possible construction period and when the population might have left it).

It is likely that those people who have built it all died out, possibly even their children have grown to adulthood, got old and died, leaving behind a 3rd generation who might not have felt the interest or might not have had the possibility to live there anymore and left the city.


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