Peru’s Unexplained “Gate of the Gods”

A photo of the mysterious Gate of the Gods. Image: IFL Science

The Gate of the Gods is an ancient structure in Peru with mysterious origins. No one knows who built it or why.

The Mystery of the Gate of the Gods

In southern Peru, on the side of Hayu Marca Mountain, there is a large and mysterious stone doorway carved into the rock. The origin of this doorway, known as Aramu Muru, is unknown, but its existence provides insights into the ancient Peruvian culture. It was discovered in 1996 by a local tour guide named Jose Luis Delgado Mamani near Lake Titicaca, the largest freshwater lake in South America. Since its discovery, Aramu Muru, also called "The Gate of the Gods," has been surrounded by myths and legends about how it was built and its purpose.

For thousands of years, the area around the mountains and Lake Titicaca was home to various ancient indigenous communities, including the Inca civilization led by Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui. The Inca believed that Lake Titicaca was the birthplace of the world and where spirits returned after death.

It is widely believed that Aramu Muru served as a place of pilgrimage and worship for the Inca, and stories abound about the supernatural powers of the doorway. The structure is believed to have been used for ceremonial or astronomical purposes. It stands 7 meters (23 feet) high and 7 meters wide, with a smaller door-shaped recess in the center.

Visitors claim to feel safe and peaceful when they rest their foreheads inside the smaller recess. Although little is known about the origin of the door, it is believed to predate the Inca, and many Native American communities have culturally significant tales about its uses.

The prevailing mythology suggests that the doorway is a portal or "star gate" used for traveling to other worlds. Some people also believe that the door is used by gods as a means of visiting and inspecting their realms.

A photo of the Gate of the Gods showing the circular indent where the golden solar disk is said to have been placed by Aramu Muru. Image: Ancient Wisdom

Despite being thought to predate the Inca, Aramu Muru is named after an Inca legend. According to the legend, while fleeing from the Spanish invaders, an Inca priest named Aramu Muru took a golden solar disk known as "the key of the gods of seven rays" from the Koricancha temple in Cusco. He carried it over 450 kilometers (280 miles) to the stone doorway and placed the disk on the door. Allegedly, the door opened like a portal, and the priest passed through it, disappearing.

More on the Gate of the Gods

The history channel’s Ancient Aliens covers the strangeness surrounding Peru’s Gate of the Gods

Have you ever been to the Gate of the Gods in Peru? Tell us about your experience in the comments!

If you enjoyed learning about the ancient Gate of the Gods you might be interested in more ancient mysteries such as Pumapunku or the ancient underwater city in Cuba.