Explore the undeciphered writing of the Incas

Isaac Newton once stated, "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." This age-old phrase acknowledges that all new discoveries are dependent on the knowledge that preceded them.

At Google, we firmly believe that history has much to teach us. As a Latin American, I am certain that the native peoples who inhabited our beautiful, diverse, and inspiring region left us countless treasures, many of which still patiently wait to be discovered.

Therefore, it is with great pleasure and pride that I present the new online exhibition, The Khipu Keepers, on Google Arts & Culture.

Khipus, meaning "knots" in the Quechua language, are the colorful, intricate cords made by the Incas, who inhabited parts of South America before the Spanish colonization of the Americas. These knotted strings remain an enigma waiting to be unraveled. What secrets are hidden in these colorful knots dating back centuries? What messages from the Incas echo in these intricate cords? Could the ancestral knowledge they hold inform us about our future?

Wari khipus belong to South America's first empire and can be identified through their cow hitch knots or the colorful wrapping pattern that defines them.

Currently, there are approximately 1,400 surviving khipus in private collections and museums around the world. While approximately 85% of these contain knots representing numbers, the remaining 15% are believed to be an ancient form of writing without written words on paper or stone. Researchers are still working to decipher the meanings of these coded messages.

With the exhibition launching online today, the Lima Art Museum (MALI) and Google Arts & Culture are opening a window into one of the greatest mysteries the Inca people left behind.

By putting the centuries-old khipus on display online for the first time, this exhibition will allow people from across the world to engage with the fantastic legacy of the Inca civilization.The mind surpassed the physical capabilities of the man: while employed in the service of noble courts, Leonardo devised various inventions pertaining to hydraulic and military engineering. Although most of these machines were never constructed due to the limitations of technological advancements during that era, they demonstrated a modern and imaginative approach. Take, for instance, the sketch of the glider and the three-dimensional representation, which serve as a testament to Leonardo's aspiration to achieve flight.

The National Museum of Science and Technology in Milan houses a collection of 170 machines and three-dimensional models created by the Master.

The sole painting by Leonardo, depicting the young lady Ginevra de' Benci, can be found in the United States. This portrait presents a three-quarters view of a Renaissance woman, appearing solemn as she gazes towards an indeterminate point beyond the confines of the painting.

The masterpieces of Leonardo da Vinci, previously scattered across various galleries, have now converged for the first time, transcending the limitations of their individual locations.

Anyone can closely examine the only Leonardo painting cherished in North America at the National Gallery of Art in Washington: the portrait of Ginevra de' Benci, which foreshadows the composition and style of the Mona Lisa. Leonardo's portraits possess a unique ability to capture the essence of the human spirit unlike any other works of art. From the Scapiliata in Parma, to the Portrait of a Musician in Milan, and the Lady with the Ermine in Krakow, each one embodies this profound quality. Among them, Leonardo's self-portrait at the age of 65 stands alone—a visage marked by wisdom, a flowing beard, and introspective lines.

Merge and manipulate da Vinci's codex sketches to envision novel or eccentric ideas that may arise from your imagination.

A whiteboard adorned with colored sticky notes showcases sketches by Leonardo da Vinci.

Da Vinci Stickies

Utilize Da Vinci's sketches to generate new and unconventional ideas with the assistance of Google's AI Image Generation Research.

Da Vinci possessed an insatiable curiosity and was a prolific sketcher, diligently observing and establishing connections between natural elements, science, and technology in his codex sketches.

Unleash your inner da Vinci in a contemporary creative session, combining his codices with a digital whiteboard, sticky notes, and generative AI.