| |
|
 |
|
|
The present-day name is a deformation of the original Tanpumach'ay , that is a compound and comes from
"tanpu"= lodge and "mach'ay"= resting place.
 This place and its name are consigned in different chronicles, which also indicate that originally it was an exclusive relaxing and retirement palace for the Inkas. According to Polo de Ondegardo, it belonged to Inka Yupanqui who used it when hunting; which is probable because even today, on the mountains surrounding it there are many wild animals such as deer, pumas, foxes, partridges, etc., and in Inkan times perhaps also wild South-American cameloids.
The Inka was considered as the Son of the Sun, thence, he was a living god. Thus, his house or palace also had a sacred character, which is demonstrated as this place is considered in the chronicles as Waqa (Sanctuary). What is left from the building is leaning against the mountain face and constructed with medium polygonal limestones, with the "cellular" wall type. There are four trapezoidal niches in the upper wall and two other ones lower to the right; all with monolithic lintels. Those niches were probably used in order to keep Inkan idols as well as mummies. There are three Ceremonial Water Fountains too. They were built in two different levels and had a strictly ritual duty when considering that Unu or Yaku (water) was an important male deity that fertilized the earth. Thus, water had always special temples for its cult in all the important religious complexes. The water found here is clean and crystalline; its source is unknown and it is conducted through an underground channel. It is supposed that the water spring is located toward the west, in the skirts of the range of mountains known as " Senqa". This water being clean and crystalline is inoffensive for us, people who dwell in the region because of our custom and acclimatization; but it could not be so good for foreigners. Many authors call this site "Inka's Bath", others "Ñusta's Bath" (ñusta = princess); some others with certain audacity say that these liturgical fountains are "Eternal Youth Fountains" or "Fertility Fountains" inducing visitors to drink the water. There is not so much knowledge of the practice of ceremonial baths among Inkas; however, they could have existed as a way to purify the body.
|
