Blog Post 1: Symbols

The Intihuatana Stone 

Machu Picchu is often considered the crown jewel of Incan civilisation and is a clear representation of Indigenous knowledge and innovation. Despite this, conventional biases pertaining to Incan culture (and ancient civilisations in general) has led many visitors into being enthralled by the mysticism and spiritual aspects of the Machu Picchu without appreciating the scientific knowledge the villagers had.

A poignant symbol of this is the Intihuatana Stone. It is one of the most well-known sites at Machu Picchu, carved directly out of the mountain rock at the sites most elevated point. The Stone was considered a sacred part of the Machu Picchu and experts believe it to have been a centrepiece to many religious celebrations. This significance makes it a common tourist destination, with visitors claiming to feel energy radiating from the carving. Tourists used to even be allowed to touch it so they could feel the energy of the sun.

Despite this, the Intihuatana Stone is much more than a religious site – for it is also a symbol of the Incan’s understanding of astronomy. Experts agree that the main function of the Stone was as a sundial, a theory supported by how the sun lines up directly above the stone during both biannual equinoxes.

The tension between these interpretations reflects what Harper and White (2016) describe in Land of Symbols - that symbols gain power through ambiguity. When a symbol like the Intihuatana can mean different things to different people it becomes easier to promote and harder to question. This vague symbolic meaning feeds neatly into the “mystic lost city” stereotype, allowing tourists to project their desires onto the site while overlooking the complex Indigenous perspectives beneath it.

Harper, M., & White, R. (2016). Symbols of Australia. NewSouth Publishing.
Image: Savage, M. (2012, May 28). Intihuatana de Machu Picchu (Pérou) [Photograph]. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peru_-_Machu_Picchu_123_-_Intihuatana_(7181950605).jpg