The Mystery of Machu Picchu Trivia Quiz

Answer: Temple of the Sun

The Temple of the Sun was dedicated to Inti, the Inca sun god, and functioned as both a religious sanctuary and an astronomical observatory. Its main trapezoidal window was positioned to receive the rising sun at the June solstice. It's the only building at Machu Picchu which has a curved wall.

Beneath the temple is a small cave carved from natural rock, which is believed to have been used for royal burials or important ceremonies. Only priests and members of the Inca elite are thought to have had access. Visitors can view the cave from outside, as the interior is closed to help preserve the site.

Answer: Intihuatana Stone

The Intihuatana Stone is a carved granite pillar standing at the highest point of the religious sector at Machu Picchu. Its name in Quechua means 'place to tie up the sun'. It was probably used to observe the sun's movement throughout the year, helping to identify important points in the solar calendar for agricultural and ceremonial purposes.

During the March equinox, the midday sun stands almost directly above the stone, casting very little shadow. In 2000, one corner of the monument was damaged when a camera crane struck it during the filming of a television advertisement. It is protected from public access.

Answer: Temple of the Condor

The Temple of the Condor combines natural rock formations with carefully carved stone to create the image of a condor with outstretched wings. The condor was an important symbol in Inca belief, as it represented the upper world and the heavens.

There's a small stone chamber beneath the temple. Some archaeologists suggest it may have been used to hold prisoners, while others believe it served a ceremonial or ritual purpose. Its original function remains uncertain.

Answer: The three realms

The Temple of the Three Windows stands on the eastern side of the Sacred Plaza and takes its name from three large trapezoidal windows built into one wall. In Inca cosmology, the number three was associated with the three realms: the upper world, the world of the living and the underworld.

The windows overlook the surrounding mountains and admit light into the plaza at different times of day. The temple was one of the principal ceremonial buildings recorded by Hiram Bingham during his 1911 expedition.

Answer: Preventing erosion and stabilising the slopes

Machu Picchu contains around 700 agricultural terraces cut into the steep mountainsides surrounding the citadel. They were used to grow crops such as potatoes, maize and coca and also helped to stabilise the slopes and prevent erosion.

Each terrace was carefully constructed with layers of stone, gravel, sand and fertile soil to provide effective drainage during heavy rainfall. This engineering allowed the Incas to farm successfully in a mountainous environment.

Answer: Sun Gate (Inti Punku)

The Sun Gate, or Inti Punku, stands at an altitude of about 2,720 metres (8,924 feet) on the ridge above Machu Picchu. It acted as an entrance for travellers arriving along the Inca Trail, where the citadel comes into view for the first time.

At the June solstice, the rising sun appears through the gateway when viewed from certain points. Because of its elevated position, the Sun Gate probably also served as a lookout and checkpoint for people approaching the site.

Answer: The steep mountain rising behind Machu Picchu

Huayna Picchu is a steep peak which rises immediately north of the citadel to an elevation of about 2,693 metres (8,835 feet). It's connected to the main site by a narrow ridge. Its name means 'Young Mountain' in Quechua. Machu Picchu means 'Old Mountain'.

The mountain contains Inca terraces, stairways carved into the rock and the Temple of the Moon, a ceremonial structure built within a natural cave. Visitor numbers are strictly limited each day to help preserve the archaeological remains and the surrounding environment.

Answer: A network of sixteen fountains fed by a natural spring

Machu Picchu contains a system of sixteen fountains, which are supplied by a natural spring on the mountain's northern slope. Water flowed through carefully constructed stone channels from one fountain to the next, providing a continuous supply throughout the settlement.

The system supplied fresh water for drinking and domestic use and may also have played a role in religious ceremonies. Modern engineers regard it as one of the finest examples of Inca hydraulic engineering.

Answer: To provide a secret entrance that could be cut off by removing logs

The Inca Bridge is located along a narrow cliff path on the western side of Machu Picchu, about thirty minutes' walk from the main ruins. It originally consisted of removable wooden logs spanning a gap in the mountainside.

Removing the logs would have made the route impassable, providing a concealed access point that could quickly be closed if necessary. Today, visitors can view the bridge from a short distance, but crossing it is not permitted.

Answer: The main ceremonial area surrounded by important temples

The Sacred Plaza formed the principal ceremonial space at Machu Picchu. It's surrounded by important religious buildings, including the Temple of the Three Windows and the Principal Temple, while the Intihuatana Stone stands on higher ground nearby.

The plaza was used for religious ceremonies and public gatherings, occupying the heart of the site's ceremonial sector. Its position links many of Machu Picchu's most significant monuments.