File:The myths of Mexico and Peru (1913) (14803974493).jpg

Identifier: mythsofmexicoper01spen (find matches)
Title: The myths of Mexico and Peru
Year: 1913 (1910s)
Authors: Spence, Lewis, 1874-1955
Subjects: Indians of Mexico Indian mythology Indians of Mexico Indians of South America Indian mythology Indians of South America
Publisher: New York, T. Y. Crowell company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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rk) is a bas-relief found on the lintel of an inner door at theextremity of the building. It represents a figure seatedbefore a vase, with outstretched forefinger, and whenceit got its traditional appellation it would be hard to say,unless the person represented is supposed to be in theact of writing. The figure is surrounded by inscrip-tions. At Chichen were found a statue of Tlaloc, thegod of rain or moisture, and immense torsos repre-senting Kukulcan. There also was a terrible wellinto which men were cast in time of drought as apropitiation to the rain-god. Kabah At Kabah there is a marvellous frontage which strik-ingly recalls that of a North American Indian totem-house in its fantastic wealth of detail. The ruins arescattered over a large area, and must all have been atone time painted in brilliant colours. Here two horsesheads in stone were unearthed, showing that the nativeshad copied faithfully the steeds of the conqueringSpaniards. Nothing is known of the history of Kabah,190
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Details of the Nunnery at Chichen-Itza Photo C. B. Waite, Mexico 190 THE DWARFS HOUSE but its neighbour, Uxmal, fifteen miles distant, is muchmore famous. Uxmal The imposing pile of the Casa del Gobernador(Governors Palace, so called) at Uxmal is perhaps thebest known and described of all the aboriginal buildingsof Central America. It occupies three successive colossalterraces, and its frieze runs in a line of 325 feet, and isdivided into panels, each of which frames a gigantic headof priest or deity. The striking thing concerning thisedifice is that although it has been abandoned for overthree hundred years it is still almost as fresh architec-turally as when it left the builders hands. Here and therea lintel has fallen, or stones have been removed in a spiritof vandalism to assist in the erection of a neighbouringhacienda^ but on the whole we possess in it the mostunspoiled piece of Yucatec building in existence. Onthe side of the palace where stands the main entrance,directly over

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