Roque Bentayga

One of the most extraordinary hierophanies found in the Risco Caído and the Sacred Mountains of Gran Canaria Cultural Landscape occurs at the Roque Bentaya almogarén, where, during the equinox sunrise, the projected shadow through a slot carved in a rocky promontory on the eastern edge of the site matches a circular symbol - a glyph with a diameter of around 70 cm engraved in the floor of the central platform of the almogarén (sanctuary) at Roque Bentayga, demonstrating the place’s symbolic value. Like many of the more relevant elements of the local landscape, this demonstrates that they act as references for the firmament, clearly signalled, providing as direct line of communication between the mountain sanctuaries and the heavens.