Use and Application of Symbolic Solar Lighting in Mayan and Inca Architecture: A Literary Review

Abstract

This literary review examines and analyzes the use of sunlight for symbolic purposes in the architecture of the main pre-hispanic cultures, analyzing how this knowledge has been used since the beginning of human civilization. The first civilizations that studied the apparent solar movement discovered that this knowledge meant an advantage to be able to survive and evolve, so they began to incorporate this knowledge into their architectural works; initially as a tribute, as it was one of the first divinities; then as lighting and later with symbolic or phenomenological purposes by using the effect that light generates when it travels through the architectural elements. With this data collection it is intended to manifest the basic knowledge of applied solar astronomy, to understand the knowledge used by the Mayans and Incas thanks to their empirical and experimental methods. From this review it can be concluded that pre-hispanic cultures were able to study the apparent solar movement and, with it, build their calendars based on their survival needs and at the same time, build religious buildings in which the Sun, through its illumination, plays a leading role for symbolic purposes.