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| Picture by Mhwater |
This gateway in Taihuanaco, Bolivia depicts a smoothly carved stone gateway with low and high relief carvings at the top of the arch. Upon closer inspection one will see that the main figure in the middle is larger then the others and also appears to have a more ornate headdress than the other figures. The size difference in the figures most likely is meant to show that the larger figure is a one of power and might even be a depiction of a god. The smaller figures are depicted as having their own ornate headdresses and what may be tails or cloaks, this may point to the gateway being part of an old temple where ceremonies were held. The fact that the bottom part of the gateway is smooth may have to do with the wear of time or it may have been kept smooth on purpose in order to draw more attention to the carvings at the top of the arch.
The large figure at the top is a depiction of the sun-god and may actually be the God Viracocha, whom was said to have created all things, but researchers lack enough evidence to prove this. The figure is one of ceremony as it is holding ceremonial staffs with feline and condor heads on either end of the them. The smaller figures are meant to be his close servants and it is unclear if they are human or not. Due to lack of evidence surrounding this gateway there have been many theories about what its' meaning is and why is was built. Some historians believe it to have been built as a gateway to another realm while others theorize that it was made to be a calendar.
Citations:
Smithfield, Brad. "The Gate of the Sun: A megalithic solid stone structure, confusing experts ever since its discovery." 19 April 2017. The Vintage News. 1 November 2018. <https://www.thevintagenews.com/2017/04/19/the-gate-of-the-sun-a-megalithic-solid-stone-structure-confusing-experts-ever-since-its-discovery/>.
O'Riley, Michael Kampen. "Western Polynesia: Tonga and Samoa." O'Riley, Michael Kampen. Art Beyond the West. Ashville: Pearson Prentice Hall, n.d. 278.
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