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by the great wall wpich passes through Ahuac–

pinta. Moreover, between these sanctuaries was

a room with only three walls, two sides and the

back; it is probable that this open room was used

for sacrifices, sincie under it ran three canals

which emptied about the center of the wall. There

were communicating windows between

these

sanctuaries, as is evidenced by those which

yet

exist on each side of the uncovered room; the

distanee between these sanctuaries and those of

the Moon and Venus is 36 metres. From the rooms

described, as well ras fron1 the data of the histor–

ians,

may be inferred that the sanctuary of the

Sun occupied what is today the southern part of

the Catholic temple, the construc'tion of this tem–

ple ha ing ent'

r.e~y

destroyed that edifice. One

may infe

that

arrangement and form were

similar to that o

the sanctuaries of the Moon or

Venus, w ic

ar:e

the best, except

that the

temple of

the Sun must have been

larger

than the others, as well as more richly adorned.

Here the Incas . worshiped the .Sun, symbolized

by golden discs. Garcilaso tells us that the upper

part of both the interior· and exterior of this

sanctuary was covered with plates of gold laid

in the

orm of borders. In the interior there was

a series of recesses

or the vot.ive offerings. It is

said that the discs of gold w.ere so placed as to

refl ect the rays of the ri sing and setting sun each

day. Th is sanctuary muf4t have had four en-

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