The fourth ICONWELD 2018 conference was held at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP), which was founded in 1917.
Following the conference, participants were treated to a visit near Lima, where a civilisation existed some 1800 years ago, pre-dating the Inca. These people worshiped Pacha Kamaq who was considered the creator. Many of the ruins in the photographs below were from this period. However, the Inca conquered these people around 1470, but assimilated their religion while acknowledging the superiority of their own Sun God. The Inca built enormous pyramids to worship the Sun God, and the major structures visible are these constructions. The Spanish, when they conquered, pulled down the walls of the Sun Temples, using the stones to build their own structures.
Some photographs courtesy of Alberto Bejarano.
At the Pachacamac archaeological site, some 30 km from central Lima.
At the Pachacamac archaeological site. The Pacific Ocean is just a few hundred yards away.
A part of the site was dedicated to burials. Human bones are visible on the surface of robbed tombs.
This pyramid was a much later Inca construction to facilitate worship of the Sun God.
Some of the original red paint survives.
Pacific Ocean
A particularly cruel inheritance from Spain. This is a bull fighting ring where helpless animals are tortured to death whilst the audience applauds.
The Inca allocated some young women to make textiles for priests, and brewed corn beer which was used in Inca festivals. These women were confined to this Mamacona building, and some were sacrificed in a ritual that was supposed to be a great honour.
A papaya tree.
There is a museum in the vicinity, containing some exciting discoveries made on site.
This pole is really old, depicting the Pachacamac god.
The pole was found behing this door.
Mummies discovered on site.
This is an Inca record-keeping device, information dependent on the number of beads.
Visit to a nearby Hacienda
The main business at this Hacienda is the breeding of Peruvian horses. These horses are adapted uniquely because they have for generations moved on sandy soil. They move by lifting one foot at a time, which leads to smooth motion rather than the bumpy rides of conventional horse movement. Peruvian horses are also physically smaller than is usual.
We were treated to impressive equine performances, including one by a month old foal.
In addition, there were several performances of classical dance.
