The Moche Temples

Huaca del Sol y la Luna, or Temples of the Sun and Moon, are the most famous Moche temples in Peru.

The Moche Temples are found in northern Peru and, like many other Moche ruins, are covered in brilliant friezes of various shapes and scary figures. They were made of adobe bricks and would have taken several years to complete, with each generation adding new levels. The sites' friezes and pottery depict a variety of Moche behaviors, including religious ceremonies involving human sacrifice and the gods' relationships with them. These would have been brilliantly colored at the time: it's believed that religious leaders used psychedelic drugs, which explains why some visuals are so vivid and strange.

The site is still in the early stages of development, although there is already signage and interpretation. A short walk away is the Museo Huacas del Moche, which houses most of what was excavated from the site. It's certainly worth your time to go to the museum.

Location: Trujillo, Peru