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the Sun (the Coricancha) and take all the precious objects necessary to meet the amount of the ransom. Thus these men were the last ones to see that sacred ambit in all its splendour before proceeding to remove seven hundid sheets of gold weighing about five pounds each from its walls, and snatching gold masks and sceptres from the mummies of the Inca emperors, ancestors of Atahualpa. However, although considerable, the SECRET TUNNELS UF THE INCAS the Sun (the Coricancha) and take all the amount of gold was not sufficient for the By Javier Sierra. Translated from the precious objects necessary to meet the ransom to be given on the deadline set by Spanish by Doris L. Phillips amount of the ransom. Pizarro, and this gave him a perfect excuse In January 1533, the Spanish conquest of Thus these men were the last ones to see to execute Atahualpa on the afternoon of Peru reached its most dramatic point. The that sacred ambit in all its splendour before 24th June 1533. Inca King, Atahualpa, prisoner of Pizarro proceeding to remove seven hundid sheets Following the death of Atahualpa, and his men, promised to pay a huge ran- of gold weighing about five pounds each Pizarro returned to Cuzco to continue the som in gold and silver for his freedom. To from its walls, and snatching gold masks looting of the Coricancha. There still speed the gathering of the gold and silver, and sceptres from the mummies of the Inca remained the gold statues in the garden and Atahualpa consented to let three of his emperors, ancestors of Atahualpa. the impressive gold solar disc which gave Spanish captors enter the sacred Temple of However, although considerable, the the Temple its name. But, in spite of the opportunity the Spaniards had to find them, these most important treasures were not found. They had been hidden in some unknown place, out of their reach. The chronicler Cristobal de Molina wrote in 1553, referring to the gold solar disc: “The solar disc was hidden by the Indians in such a way that to this day it has not been found." This gave way to the speculation that the most valuable and . sacred Inca objects were being kept in sub- terranean rooms, accessible only through secret tunnels. Several stories relating to this served to perpetuate the myth that a tunnel leading to the Inca treasure begins at the Coricancha Temple and exits near the massive ruins of Sacsayhuaman, in a place known as the Chinkana Grande (Big Cave). The Chinkana Grande today is no more than a big hole a few metres deep under a colossal hewn stone. In 1989, the investi- gator Fernando Jimenez de! Oso tried to By Javier Sierra. Translated from the Spanish by Doris L. Phillips In January 1533, the Spanish conquest of Peru reached its most dramatic point. The Inca King, Atahualpa, prisoner of Pizarro and his men, promised to pay a huge ran- som in gold and silver for his freedom. To speed the gathering of the gold and silver, Atahualpa consented to let three of his Spanish captors enter the sacred Temple of NEXUS ¢ 65 SECRET TUNNELS OF THE INCAS FEBRUARY - MARCH 1995