File:Travels amongst American Indians - their ancient earthworks and temples - including a journey in Guatemala, Mexico and Yucatan, and a visit to the ruins of Patinamit, Utatlan, Palenque and Uxmal (14781138264).jpg

Identifier: travelsamongstam00brin (find matches)
Title: Travels amongst American Indians : their ancient earthworks and temples : including a journey in Guatemala, Mexico and Yucatan, and a visit to the ruins of Patinamit, Utatlan, Palenque and Uxmal
Year: 1894 (1890s)
Authors: Brine, Lindesay, 1834-1906
Subjects: Indians -- Antiquities Guatemala -- Antiquities Mexico -- Antiquities North America -- Description and travel
Publisher: London : S. Low, Marston & Company
Contributing Library: Brown University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brown University

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. One of the most important of these is that knownas the Pyramid of the Dwarf. I examined it withparticular attention for the purpose of studying thecharacter of a series of small stone vaults or cellsplaced round its base, which were similar in size anddesign to those that I had seen on the lower slopesof the Kue near the coast above Campeachy.Many of these cells were sufficiently perfect toenable their dimensions and shape to be verified.It seemed evident that they must have been madefor sepulchral purposes. If this conclusion is correctit is probable that they were the burial places forthe ashes of the caciques who ruled over this partof Yucatan. Upon an investigation of the outer parts of thepyramid, it is to be observed that it was not onlycarefully constructed, but its plan must have beenaccurately drawn and the relative mathematicalmeasurements calculated with reference to the spacethat was required for the temple. The magnitudeof the base could not be determined, on account of
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Pyramid and Temple of the Dwarf. PYRAMID OF THE DWARF. 341 the quantities of fallen stones and other ddbris. In1841, Mr. Stephens considered that it was twohundred and thirty-five feet long by one hundredand fifty-five feet wide. The perpendicular heightto the platform was estimated to be eighty-eightfeet. The steps leading up to the summit are broad,and must have formed an imposing approach, but inconsequence of the angle of the slope they arenecessarily steep, and are placed so close togetherthat there is barely sufl&cient width for the foot torest. At the base of the pyramid there is an opencourt, which I observed to be similar in shape toone adjoining the base of an altar built by theQuiches at Utatlan, but it was larger in extent.The court leads to the entrance of the Casa de lasMonjas. This building may be considered to be the resultof the greatest powers of sculpture and ornamenta-tion that the Indians possessed, and judging fromthe condition of many of its chambers, it is

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