Events

The Wari civilization (600–1000) forged a complex society that many regard as South America’s first empire. Only the later Inca Empire (1400–1532) had greater influence and extent. The Wari achievement is remarkable because it was a first—earlier Andean societies offered no model on which to build—and it occurred without the aid of writing. Wari artworks, including polychrome ceramics, precious metal and colorful mosaic ornaments, and sophisticated textiles, acted as vehicles of communication, recording and preserving the way in which the Wari regarded themselves, nature, and the divine realm. This lecture will explore the artistic heritage of the Wari and their influence on the Inca Empire and recount the fascinating story of the discovery of the “Lost City of the Incas,” Machu Picchu, by Hiram Bingham III in 1911.

These lectures, part of a continuing series, introduce the permanent collection and selected exhibitions on view at the Kimbell. Piano Auditorium