Peru’s Chimú culture dates back to 900-1470 A.D., following the Moche and the Lambayeque cultures. Around the middle of the 14th century the size and influence of their civilization grew into an empire, known as the Kingdom of Chimor. At its peak it stretched 600 miles, from modern day Ecuador to near Lima.
The heart of Chimor was the metropolis of Chan Chan, located near modern day Trujillo. It was the largest of all known South American cities prior to the Spanish conquest, peaking at around 40,000-60,000 people. What’s shown here is one of nine citadels at Chan Chan. They were each constructed during the reigns of various rulers. Initially these acted as imperial courts for the nobility, and later served as temples to prior rulers. Their tombs were located within the main central courtyards. Smaller pyramid temples did also exist during this period, but their diminished size relative to these massive citadels, and the prominent tombs contained within, suggests that the rulers themselves were being worshipped as God Kings (similar to the Inca).
The citadels were protected by adobe walls up to 40 feet high, to defend the vast wealth and nobility contained within. Their society was becoming more stratified. Farmers and fishermen living throughout their empire supported the cities with food paid as tribute. Guilds of specialized artisans lived next to the citadels, within densely packed cane houses, to serve the elite. These included weavers, woodworkers, and most notably, metallurgy.
In their worldview, silver represented the light of the moon, associated with the ocean and tides, whereas gold represented the sun, tied to the seasons and agriculture. Before their later imperial period, severe El Niño flooding stripped farmland of topsoil and causing widespread famine. After this collapse, marine motifs became more common in Chimú architecture, perhaps signaling a growing importance of seafood. Pelicans signified the presence of baitfish, while the citadel’s mesh-like walls are stylized as fishing nets. Squirrels around the main temple are said to represent the hoarding of food, which would be distributed throughout their empire in times of crop failure.