Gate of the Sun – Peace

Gate of the Sun – Peace

[ap_dropcaps style=”ap-square”]L[/ap_dropcaps]Puerta del Sol is part of the Tiwanaku Monumental Archaeological Complex, It is located in the northwest corner of the Kalasasaya Temple. It is one of the most important material and symbolic representations of the Tiwanak metropolis.. Carved in a single piece of andesite stone, has 3 meters high, 4 meters wide and an approximate weight of 10 tons. Its front face presents a band carved with low reliefs, presents 48 figures of winged men and kneeling men, located around a main figure, known as the “Sun God” or “Lord of the Staffs”. The trumpeters, located at the bottom of the bas-reliefs seem to mark with precision 105 solar movements, For this reason, several researchers maintain that the frieze could be a perfect calendar that marks the dates of the agricultural cycles.. The rear face has a projecting upper frieze and a lower one that is framed in the door lintel accompanied by small niches..

According to experts, the Puerta del Sol was part of a covered temple, possibly from the Akapana Pyramid or the Kalasasaya Temple itself. Due to its design features, its structure, the holes and recesses in the monument these could fit with wooden or stone crossbars. In the same way, in the lateral sectors of the lithic complex you can find entrances to hold the walls laterally as part of a closed structure..

AUTONOMOUS DEPARTMENTAL GOVERNMENT OF LA PAZ
SECRETARY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INDUSTRIAL TRANSFORMATION
DIRECTORATE OF CULTURES AND TOURISM
TOURISM UNIT