How Manco Capac, when he saw that his brothers had been turned into stones, went to a valley where he met some people; and how he founded and built the ancient and very rich city of Cuzco, which was the capital of the whole empire of the Incas

Archaeological and historical evidence from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cuzco reveals the mythological and ritualistic foundations of its establishment by Manco Capac, the first Inca ruler. The study suggests that the city's inception was marked by divine omens—such as celestial signs and bird flights—that guided Manco Capac in selecting the site for his settlement. The initial structure, a humble stone house with a straw roof named Curicancha (later becoming the Temple of the Sun), symbolized the city's golden legacy. This account, derived from indigenous narratives, highlights the syncretism of Inca religious practices and astronomical observations, providing insight into the cultural and spiritual significance of Cuzco's origins as the capital of the Inca Empire.

(Ed.). (2010). How Manco Capac, when he saw that his brothers had been turned into stones, went to a valley where he met some people; and how he founded and built the ancient and very rich city of Cuzco, which was the capital of the whole empire of the Incas. The Second Part of the Chronicle of Peru, 22–23. https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9780511697692.008