Lineas de Nasca
THE NASCA LINES 20km north of the town of Nasca, within 500sq km of an arid and rock-strewn plateau, on a plain called the Pampa Colorada lies the mystery of the Nasca Lines! 800 straight lines, 300 geometric figures (geoglyphs) and over 70 animals and plants (biomorphs).
The lines were created by removing the iron oxide coated pebbles which cover the surface of the desertio. The desertio is one of the driest on earth and maintains a yearly temperature of around 77°F.
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Maria Reiche (1903-1998), was a german mathematician and researcher who devoted her life to studying and preserving the Nasca lines created by the Paracus and Nasca cultures (900BC- 600AD) with additions by the Wari settlers (from the mountains) in the 7th century.
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The ´mono´ (monkey) is one continuous line and continues on to connect with other lines in the desierto. Maria Reiche believed the lines to be an agricultural seasonal calendar and connected to star constellations. Some lines point in the exact direction of sunrise and sunsets for both the summer and winter solstace. After my star-gazing lesson last night at the Maria reiche lecture I want to believe her.
The ´hummingbird´. Most scholars now support the theories of Johann Reinhard who maintains the lines were part of a mountain and water worship as part of a fertility and water cult of the Nasca cultures. The animals were possibly sacrifices to a deity or the gods and hence only seen from above. (Nasca ceramics depicted figures and animals in 2-D and 3-D simultaneously, and influenced Picasso & Cubismo in the early 20th century!). Ceremonies performed on the rectangular shapes and walking rituals along the lines. Everything is connected- life, the land, the sky and water.
posted by Lou @ 10:32 PM
5 Comments:
I realise this post is rather long! I´ve learnt a lot this weekend and I´ve got to kill time before my leaves for Arequipa later tonight!!
besos
xx
Nothing wrong with long posts Princesca!!!!
xx
Hey Princesca! Wow thats just amazing! We couldn't even re-create stuff like this with machines now! Keep enjoying & keep the info coming, its just brilliant. Hope you make Arequipa on Fri. Talk soon, lots of love, Dep2 xx
Hola keeps- missed you chica!
When I left Nasca last night on the bus, driving through the desert there were hundreds of stars- I can see why Maria reiche made the connection, it was magical. Moment slightly pertubed by over 50 snoring people next to me!! besos chicas xx
ps dont drink too much at the navidad party!? x
These are just so weird, they really amaze me. I'd love to be there with you Lou.
xx
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