The Chakana in the Middle East?

I’m pretty convinced that I’m not the only one who has seen this. I’m talking about the Chakana, a sacred cultural Andes symbol in Saudi Arabia. It’s quite intriguing to note the presence of the Chakana in this region of the world. Ive tried searching about these similarities but haven’t really come across any.

I’m not going to go too much into historical research as I’m sure other websites already do that however i think it’s worth pondering whether these resemblances are mere coincidences or indicative of a more intricate web of cultural exchange that may have occurred.

Qasr al-Farid

The following images are located in northern Saudi Arabia, in an ancient city named Mada’in Saleh.

The picture on left that’s carved into a boulder is known as Qasr al-Farid, or “The Lonely Castle”. I’ve also seen on other websites that this is also known as the Tomb of Lihyan. As for the picture on the right I couldn’t really find a name for it but it is found in the same area, the difference being that these are all together.

The Andes

These next pictures are of the Chakana , a known symbol in the Andes. The right picture is situated within the heart of Bolivia, where the remnants of the Tiahuanaco culture stand as a testament to the enduring legacy of ancient civilizations. On the left, we journey to Pisac, Peru in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

It seems that the Chakana has somehow made its way to Saudi Arabia, maybe the other way around, or maybe a mere coincidence. I wonder if this suggests a connection that transcends geographical boundaries and cultural contexts. This sparks questions about the shared human narratives that we are taught.

What do you guys think?

References:

Grundhauser, E. (2014) Mada’in Salih, Atlas Obscura. Available at: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-lonely-castle-saudi-arabia (Accessed: 29 July 2023).
Qasr al-Farid (Madain Saleh). Qasr al-Farid (Madain Saleh) – Madain Project (en). (n.d.). https://madainproject.com/qasr_al_farid_(madain_saleh)
Tomb of Lihyan son of Kuza – Al Ula in Al Ula – Welcome Saudi. (n.d.). https://welcomesaudi.com/activity/tomb-of-lihyan-son-of-kuza-al-ula#:~:text=Tomb%20of%20Lihyan%2C%20son%20of,to%20ancient%20design%20and%20architecture.
Patowary, K. (2020, June 22). Qasr al Farid: The Lonely Castle of Mada’in Saleh. Amusing Planet. Retrieved August 2, 2023, from https://www.amusingplanet.com/2015/02/qasr-al-farid-lonely-castle-of-mada.html

Extras:

I also want to share this website I came across that was super interesting and I think you might enjoy too

Chakana

Qasr al-Farid

The Andes

References:

Extras:

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