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The Paracas Candelabra, also called the Candelabra of the Andes, is a well-known prehistoric geoglyph found on the northern face of the
The Paracas Candelabra, also called the Candelabra of the Andes, is a well-known prehistoric geoglyph found on the northern face of the Paracas Peninsula
The Paracas Peninsula is a desert peninsula within the boundaries of the Paracas National Reserve, a marine reserve that extends south along the coast of Peru. The only marine reserve in the country, it is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site ...
at Pisco Bay in Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = National seal
, national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...
. Pottery found nearby has been radio carbon dated to 200 BCE, the time of the Paracas culture. The design is cut into the soil, with stones possibly from a later date placed around it. The figure is tall, large enough to be seen at sea.
A variety of popular myths have arisen about the geoglyph.
History
A variety of popular myths have arisen about the geoglyph: one attributes it to José de San Martín, a 19th-century leader in the fight for independence; another suggests it is a Masonic symbol; and yet another that sailors created it as a sign which they could view at sea for landfall. Some believe it represents the motif known as aMesoamerican world tree
World trees are a prevalent motif occurring in the mythical cosmologies, creation accounts, and iconographies of the pre-Columbian cultures of Mesoamerica. In the Mesoamerican context, world trees embodied the four cardinal directions, which ...
.
Although the exact age of the Candelabra geoglyph is unknown, archaeologists have found pottery around the site dating to around 200 BCE. This pottery likely belonged to the Paracas people. It is not known if they constructed the geoglyph.
The purpose of the Candelabra's creation is also unknown. It is thought most likely to represent the trident, a lightning rod of the god Viracocha. He was long an important figure in indigenous mythology throughout South America, both before and during the time of the Inca Empire
The Inca Empire (also known as the Incan Empire and the Inka Empire), called ''Tawantinsuyu'' by its subjects, ( Quechua for the "Realm of the Four Parts", "four parts together" ) was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The adm ...
. It has also been suggested that the Candelabra was built as a sign to sailors, as it is visible from far at sea. It may be a symbolic representation of the hallucinogenic plant called Jimsonweed.
See also
* Nazca LinesReferences
External links
* http://www.kmatthews.org.uk/cult_archaeology/out_of_place_artefacts_13.html {{DEFAULTSORT:Paracas Candelabra Geoglyphs Archaeological sites in Ica Region Archaeological sites in Peru Hill figures Tourist attractions in Ica Region