The intihuatana is one of the most notable monuments in Machu Picchu. It literally means "place to tie up the sun" or "The Hitching Post of the Sun". It was carved and aligned to indicate the timing of the solstices and equinoxes, and was probably used for other astronomical observations as well. It is also thought that it was used for mountain worship, as its shape is similar to that of the Huayna Picchu mountain.