Chavín de Huantar
We visited the temple of Chavín de Huantar on a long daytrip from Huaraz. The journey itself was quite remarkable - the bus wound it's way up on an asphalted road, via the beautiful Lake Quercocha (4250m), to the Cahuish road tunnel. This narrow tunnel, at 4550m, is one of the highest in the world. Once through the tunnel, we had a nerve-wracking descent on a narrow dirt track to the small town of Chavín (3160m).
After lunch, we visited the temple, a UNESCO heritage site. Construction of the temple commenced around 800 BC, with the cult peaking between 400 and 200 BC. The temple is primarily dedicated to the part - Jaguar "Smiling" or "Snarling" god, depicted on an enormous 4.5 metre tall cross located in the centre of the temple, known as the Lanzón. This deity appears in later imagery in other cultures throughout the Andes. There are also statues of other deities, many of which have been adopted by the cult from other societies - for example, the Tello Obelisk depicts a large cayman, from the jungles to the east.
The construction of the temple is astonishing. It is located in an area prone to earthquakes, yet, because of the building techniques used, remains in good condition. A network of drains lies underneath the temple and it's courtyard. It is speculated that the cult's priests may have diverted a local river into the network during religous festivals, causing a loud roaring noise - the sound of the gods calling to the assembled masses !
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