Exploring Bolivia's Ancient Gate Of The Sun

The Gate of the Sun, also known as the Gateway of the Sun, is a monolithic gateway located at the site of Tiahuanaco (Tiwanaku) in Bolivia. The gateway is believed to have been carved from a single piece of stone and is decorated with carvings that hold astronomical, astrological, and religious significance. The central figure is a deity holding a staff in each hand, surrounded by 48 subsidiary figures, which are a mix of human and anthropomorphic avian depictions. The Gate of the Sun is one of the most significant remnants of ancient Tiwanaku art and stands as an important reminder of the lost Tiwanaku culture.

The Gate of the Sun is a monolithic gateway

The Gate of the Sun, also known as the Gateway of the Sun, is a monolithic gateway located at the site of Tiahuanaco (Tiwanaku) by the Tiwanaku culture, an Andean civilization of Bolivia that thrived around Lake Titicaca in the Andes of western South America around 500-950 AD. It is a gigantic arch carved from a single block of andesite volcanic stone, weighing around 10 tons and standing at 9.8 ft (2.8-3.0 m) tall and 13 ft (3.8-4.0 m) wide, with an opening of 4.6 ft (1.4 m).

The gateway features intricate carvings, including a central figure known as the Staff Deity, a pan-Andean god and forerunner of Viracocha, the Inca Creator God. This central figure holds a staff in each hand and is surrounded by "rays" or "tears" emitting from its face, along with 48 subsidiary figures, a combination of 32 attendants with human heads and 16 anthropomorphic figures with avian heads, often referred to as "attendants" or "God Messengers".

The Gate of the Sun is believed to hold astronomical, astrological, and calendrical significance, with some scholars suggesting that the design below the central figure represents celestial cycles. The structure may also represent a transition from a lunar religion to a solar religion, given its positioning towards the west.

The gateway was rediscovered by European explorers in the mid-19th century, where it was found lying horizontally with a large crack running through it. Today, it stands in the same location, although it is believed that this may not be its original site.

It was carved from a single piece of stone

The Gate of the Sun, also known as the Gateway of the Sun, is a monolithic gateway located at the site of Tiahuanaco (Tiwanaku) by the Tiwanaku culture, an Andean civilisation of Bolivia that thrived around Lake Titicaca in the Andes of western South America around 500-950 AD. The gateway was carved from a single piece of andesite stone, weighing an estimated 10 tons. Standing at 9.8 ft (3.0 m) tall and 13 ft (4.0 m) wide, with a gate opening of 4.6 ft (1.4 m), it is a true marvel of ancient craftsmanship.

The gateway is adorned with intricate carvings and bas-reliefs, featuring a central figure known as the Staff Deity or the Doorway God, holding a staff in each hand. This deity is believed to be a pan-Andean god and the forerunner of Viracocha, the Inca Creator god. The central figure is surrounded by 48 subsidiary figures, a combination of 32 attendants with human heads and 16 anthropomorphic figures with avian heads, often referred to as "attendants" or "god messengers".

The Gate of the Sun was rediscovered by European explorers in the mid-19th century, lying horizontally with a large crack running through it. Today, it stands in the same location where it was found, although it is believed that this may not be its original site. The structure's original purpose remains a mystery, with various interpretations suggesting it served as a calendar, a portal to another dimension, or held religious and astronomical significance.

The Tiwanaku culture, which created this impressive structure, flourished between the 5th and 9th centuries. They were skilled engineers and masons, constructing elaborate stone buildings and monuments, as well as developing a complex underground drainage system. The Gate of the Sun stands as a testament to their advanced stoneworking and artistic capabilities, as well as their unique cultural and religious beliefs.

It was discovered in the 19th century

The Gate of the Sun, also known as the Gateway of the Sun, is a monolithic gateway located at the site of Tiahuanaco (Tiwanaku) in Bolivia. It was rediscovered in the mid-19th century by European explorers, who found the structure lying horizontally on the ground with a large crack running through it. The site of Tiahuanaco was first recorded in 1549 by Pedro Cieza de León, but it was not until the 19th century that European explorers stumbled upon the Gate of the Sun within the ruins of this ancient city.

Tiwanaku is located on the southern shore of Lake Titicaca in Bolivia, at an altitude of 3,825 meters (12,549 feet) above sea level. The Gate of the Sun, carved from a single piece of stone, stands at approximately 9.8 feet (3 meters) tall and 13 feet (4 meters) wide, weighing an estimated 10 tons. It is decorated with intricate carvings and motifs, including a central figure known as the Staff God or Staff Deity, a religious Andean icon associated with the sun's movement.

The rediscovery of the Gate of the Sun in the 19th century sparked interest and intrigue among explorers and scholars. The structure was found within what is now known as the Kalasasaya Complex, a ceremonial palace. Despite being rediscovered in the 19th century, the original site of the gateway remains uncertain, and it is believed that its current location is not where it was initially erected.

The carvings on the Gate of the Sun have been the subject of various interpretations, with scholars suggesting astronomical, astrological, and calendrical purposes. The central figure, the Staff God, is surrounded by 24 linear "rays," which some interpret as representing the rays of the sun. The figure is also depicted holding a stylized spear-thrower, and some scholars have identified it as possibly representing the Inca god Viracocha or the Aymara weather god Thunupa.

The Gate of the Sun continues to be an important symbol of Tiwanaku culture and heritage, showcasing their advanced knowledge of astronomy and their artistic and engineering achievements. The structure's massive size, intricate carvings, and potential astronomical significance make it a fascinating subject of study for archaeologists and historians, who continue to unravel the mysteries of Tiwanaku and its influence on Inca mythology and iconography.

The central figure is called the Staff God

The Gate of the Sun, also known as the Gateway of the Sun, is a monolithic gateway at the site of Tiahuanaco by the Tiwanaku culture, an Andean civilization of Bolivia that thrived around Lake Titicaca in the Andes of western South America around 300-1000 AD. The gateway is 2.8 metres high and 3.8 metres wide, and was carved from a single piece of stone.

The central figure of the Gate of the Sun is called the Staff God, a pan-Andean god and forerunner of Viracocha, the Inca Creator god. The figure is thought to be holding a stylized spear-thrower or a staff in its left hand. The Staff God's head is surrounded by 24 linear "rays", which are thought to represent the rays of the sun, though other interpretations are possible.

The Staff God is surrounded by 48 subsidiary figures, 32 with human heads and 16 anthropomorphic figures with avian heads. The figures are thought to be running towards the central motif. The Staff God is also referred to as the "Weeping God" due to the presence of carvings that resemble tears on its face.

The Gate of the Sun was discovered lying horizontally on the ground with a large crack running through it within what is now known as the Kalasasaya Complex, a ceremonial palace. It presently stands in the location where it was found, though it is believed that this is not its original site.

The site is believed to have been an observatory

The Gate of the Sun, also known as the Gateway of the Sun, is a monolithic gateway at the site of Tiahuanaco by the Tiwanaku culture, an Andean civilization of Bolivia that thrived around Lake Titicaca in the Andes of western South America around 500-950 AD. The site is believed to have been an observatory.

The Gateway of the Sun in Tiwanaku is carved from a single massive block of andesite stone and is 2.8 metres high and 3.8 metres wide, with a 1.4-metre-wide opening. The central figure is known as the Staff Deity, a pan-Andean god and forerunner of Viracocha, the Inca Creator god. The gate gave entrance to the Kalasasaya sacred precinct, c. 300 CE.

The Kalasasaya is a spacious open temple that was probably once used as an observatory. It can be entered by ascending seven steps placed on its eastern side, and it is surrounded by several stone structures and monoliths, including the Gate of the Sun, perhaps the most significant remnant of ancient Tiwanaku art.

The central figure on the Gate of the Sun is a deity whose head is surrounded by 24 linear "rays", thought by some to represent rays of the sun. The deity also holds a staff in each of its two hands. This sun god figure is also known as the "Weeping God" because of marks on its face that resemble tears.

Some historians and archaeologists have suggested that the central figure could be the Inca god Viracocha or the Aymara weather god Thunupa. The spatial organisation of Tiwanaku "Staff Gods" may indicate that the personages represent ritual practitioners.

The frieze of the Gateway's front side shows 48 subsidiary figures often called "attendants", with 32 of them having human heads and 16 having anthropomorphic figures with avian heads. All run towards the central motif. These figures have been designated as the "God Messengers".

While the true purpose of the Gate of the Sun remains a mystery, one of the more accepted interpretations is that it served as an agricultural calendar, leading to it also being called the "Calendar Gate".

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