Sunday, June 15, 2014

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Architecture of Incas

According to authors and experts, Incas built their cities on a blueprint (one of the best that is) in the ancient America. Their cities are laid out in a grid. At the center piece of each city is the central plaza. And then it is surrounded by public buildings and temples. There is also the palace where it is utilized as building for visiting Sapa Incas. There were housing units also for the nobles and priests. And lastly, houses were also built for common people.

Majority of the Incan cities did not have walls around them. To solve this problem, the Incas built large stone fortresses near or beside their cities instead. It is where people could run and take refuge in times of danger. It also houses some of the military awaiting for orders from their commanders. One of the tasks of the military is to check everyone coming in or out of the cities. Generally, their cities are very safe.

In their heyday, the cities built by the Incas in general are beautiful cities. They have this practice of matching the surrounding landscape with their buildings. Specialists in the field of construction would consider Incas as master builders. Their buildings were constructed to last, and had survived natural disasters like earthquakes. Doorways and windows niches sloped inwards and slightly at the top. Roofs were slanted.


The buildings are classified as formal and yet simple. Incas loved to create things made of gold and silver. But they also liked things to be simple. The outside doors of their homes are beautifully decorated. When inside their house, you can feel the simplicity. Simple paintings on the wall, solid gold decorations and effortless ornaments.