Chavín De Huántar
The New Temple and the Black and White Portal
An
addition was made to the temple complex, called the New Temple, as illustrated
in the above map. In the tradition of the Old Temple, most of the decoration
is on the exterior of the platform in the form of cornices, tenons, and
ornamental facing.
However, there are several new and important pieces. The south side of the Old Temple is doubled and a monumental stairway leads down into the new courtyard area, approximately three times the size of the Old Temple circular plaza.
The
main portal to the New Temple is called the Black and White Portal or
Entrance of the Guardian Figures. At the top of a large staircase, a large
carved lintel (over 10 meters long) is supported on each end by two circular
columns, one of white granite and the other of black limestone, leads
into subterranean galleries. The white column is possibly a representation
of a hawk that can be interpreted as male, while the black column can
likewise be argued to be the representation of a female hawk. Furthermore,
the lintel is also carved half black and half white, and depicts a procession
of alternating hawks and harpy eagles. This further emphasizes duality
schemes found elsewhere in the site.
A rectangular plaza (85 meters by 105 meter) and a sunken courtyard (50 meters square) are also added to the complex. Within this courtyard has been found three stone ashlars, which show a front-faced deity, a howler anthropomorphized howler monkey, and either a bat or butterfly.. In the southwest region of the New Temple plaza, there was found a 10 ton limestone slab with seven circular surface depressions. It is called the Altar of Choque Chinchay and is interpreted as a calendar for planting cycles and a tool in predicting the outcome of the harvest.. In addition to the above artifacts, there are numerous interior galleries within the New Temple complex, such as the Gallery of the Columns, the Gallery of the Façade, the Gallery of the Carved Stones, and the Gallery of the Captives.
Bibliography
Burger,
Richard L. Chavín and the Origins of Andean Civilization. Thames and Hudson:
London, 1992.
Richardson,
James B. People of the Andes. St. Remy Press: Montreal, 1994.
Portal Photo by Lizardo Tavera
An
Introduction
Overview
of the Old Temple
The
Old Temple Circular Court
The
New Temple and the Black and White Portal