Leyva Guzmán, José Ramón
Preferred name
Leyva Guzmán, José Ramón
Main Affiliation
Quito
Email
joseleyva@uti.edu.ec
ORCID
0000-0001-6260-1424
Scopus Author ID
57467323500
2 results
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Item type:Publication, Use and Application of Symbolic Solar Lighting in Mayan and Inca Architecture: A Literary ReviewThis 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. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.34 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Evaluation of the use of symbolic solar lighting in Inca sacred sites: Ingapirca archaeological complex(Research and Development Academy, 2026-09-10); ; Guevara, Vivian Jadith PavónThe use of solar lighting in Inca sacred sites has been the subject of growing interest. The Ingapirca Archaeological Complex, recognized as a World Heritage Site, still presents interpretive challenges regarding its lighting design. This research evaluated how symbolic solar lighting influenced its architecture and what the combined contributions of the Cañari and Inca cultures were. An architectural and astronomical analysis of the complex was carried out using 2D drawing tools, 3D modeling, and solar simulations, focusing on key dates. The results were compared with historical sources and ethnographic studies. It was identified that the main structures of Ingapirca are aligned with the sunrise and sunset during the solstices, rather than the equinoxes, as previous studies had indicated. The solar illumination highlighted ceremonial elements, reinforcing their symbolic and spiritual significance. This evidence points to intentional architectural planning linked to the Cañari-Inca worldview. In conclusion, solar illumination at Ingapirca not only served a practical function, but also a ritual and symbolic one, demonstrating the integration of astronomy, architecture, and spirituality at the sacred sites of both cultures. © The Author2026. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) that allows others to share and adapt the material for any purpose (including commercial purposes), in any medium, with acknowledgment of the authorship of the work and its initial publication in this journal.