Page:The Incas of Peru.djvu/148

116 To ascertain the time of the equinoxes there was a stone column in the open space before the temple of the sun, in the centre of a large circle. A line was drawn across the paved area from east to west. The observers watched where the shadow of the column was on the line from sunrise to sunset, and when there was no shadow at noon.



This instrument was called Inti-huatana, which means the place where the sun is tied up or encircled. There are also Inti-huatanas on the height of Ollantay-tampu, at Pissac, at Hatun-colla, and in other places.

The ancient name of the sun was Uilca. As a deity it was Inti. As the giver of daylight it was Punchau, or Lupi.