Identifier: ancientcitiesofn00char (find matches)
Title: The ancient cities of the New World : being travels and explorations in Mexico and Central America from 1857-1882
Year: 1887 (1880s)
Authors: Charnay, Désiré, 1828-1915
Subjects: Indians of Mexico Indians of Central America
Publisher: London : Chapman and Hall
Contributing Library: Getty Research Institute
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

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lic ; every form was used, whethera common water-jug, a flat or round vase, a rude or shapelyjar, and by means of ancient moulds found in vast quantitiesin the whole area of the valley, heads, images, tiny figures,whistles, geometrical designs, palm-leaves, etc., were inlaid onthe object, which had a simple, double, or treble twisted handleaccording to its size ; it was a tripod with a gaping mouth, ortopped with arabesque, when the occasion served. Variety wasits distinctive merit ; and when completed this fine work of artwas buried some twelve months or more to impress upon itthe hand of time, and thus prepared was launched on itscourse. I trust that these few observations will serve as a warningto people, and save them from experience as costly as myown. Having now relieved my conscience, we will go back tothe Museum and look at what I consider the finest portion,namely the court, planted with beautiful palm-trees, shrubs, andflowers, amongst which may b(; seen the most interesting
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The Indians. 59 specimens of the whole collection. First and foremost is astatue of a man lying on his back, holding a cup with bothhands and pressing it against his body. It was found at Chichen-Itza, in Yucatan, by Leplongeon, an American explorer, whowas obliged to part with it in favour of the Mexican Government,in virtue of the law which declares all antiquities to be nationalproperty. Next to this in interest come two other statues, likeit in all respects : one discovered at Tlascala, the other marked unknown. This similarity of objects of art found among thepopulations of the plateaux and those of the Yucatan peninsulaseems to point to identity of worship among those tribes.Sanchez, the director of the Museum, believes this statue to beTetzcatzoncatl, god of wine ; but Perez and Dr. Hamy are ofopinion that it represents Tlaloc, god of rain, in which view Icoincide. However that may be, we will speak of it at greaterlength when we come to Chichen-Itza, where it was unearthed.On

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