The Ritual Landscape of the Inca

Research reveals that the Inca Empire's ritual landscape, centered around Cuzco, was organized into a highly complex system of 42 ceques (ritual pathways) radiating from the Temple of the Sun. At the time of European invasion in 1532 CE, this network included over 328 shrines (huacas), both natural and artificial, such as caves, boulders, springs, and man-made structures like fountains and canals. Each shrine required prayers and offerings, with maintenance responsibilities distributed among kin groups along each ceque. This system represents the most intricate ritual network identified in the ancient New World, offering profound insights into Inca cosmology and social organization.

Bauer, B. (2018). The Ritual Landscape of the Inca. In S. Alconini & A. Covey (Editors), Oxford Handbooks Online. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190219352.013.6