| Show TEMPLE of THE CHICHEN itza one of the most beautiful and B est restored of the man ruined edifices let found in lue jucatan lu catan atan about 1 2200 3 lears 1 ears old CHICHEN ITZA THE CITY OP OF THE SACRED WELL THE MECCA OE OF THE DEVOUT imp I 1 th IT 4 y 7 w 0 THE AS pa JK CARNEGIE institution photo by courtesy ot of carnegie institution pronounce it chee chen nitzah the I 1 aa as in it and accent the zah in which syllable the a la is as in arm in 1932 the carnegie institution ot of washington D C sent me with their compliments two most mag ent volumes entitled the tern pie of the warriors by earl H mor 1 jean chariot and ann axtell morris for a frontispiece the first volume ilias has a full size colored plate of the famous turquoise plaque found aa as a votive offering ottering ott ering beneath an al tar this plaque about 8 in in diameter Is one of the most elquis tte its specimens of workmanship ever discovered in either america it reposes now in the national at mexico city old mexico as one ot of the strictest provisions imposed before the carnegie institution was permitted to work there was that all objects found must be left tor for per cament lod gement with the nation al museum at mexico city this plaque consists of nearly 3 hand cut thinned polished and fitted turquoise mosaics so accor abely joined that only a hair line of glue pigment exists between the ed it depicts the great plumed serpent in panels huge jaws agape feathered plumes tangs fangs protruding and eye ablaze there Is not a more beautiful piece of work found as yet in any tomb or temple on this con the first volume then proceeds with the detail of the work of ecca the architecture and 11 t u i restoration and so thoroughly Is it done that future generations may seek it for full details with nothing skipped it Is a scientific treatise of great merit the building when discovered of course was without root roof that had long since fallen in trees grew up the sides of the slope only one tiny portion of a cornice projected thru ohp coating of debris the mound was attacked and each year carnegie institution took a photo to show the extent of the work and its course of progression all these are given in the volume carnegie institution began ecca bating in 1924 and worked tor for five years ears at the task with the result that the temple of the warriors is now the mecca of men of science as it formerly was the mecca for the faithful in times of old who jour hayed long distances to offer profit batory sacrifices sacrifice a in the sacred ce note to the rain god A gleaming splendor the rubbish was slowly removed and as the temple was bared re placements were made of all fallen atones a tev cornice pieces now lost forever cast in cement and fixed in place and today this silvery white edifice Is a gleaming splendor at testing to the architect architectural uril skill of the ancient maya their advance in art was much more tree and open mhd acre boldly abu wn hampered by religions restrictions when compared with the work of egypt statues were found in the round friezes in low and deep re lief were found by the score stucco work molded stucco work frescoed in colors the whole a superb tri not only to the maya but as well to the skill of the excavators jade that most precious object in the thoughts of the maya was found there with the turquoise plaque was found a highly polished jade sphere a seeing stone used by the ancient sorcerers like our clair use a crystal all the past present and future depicted depleted in its depths to the seer who knows how to force its magic into voice gold objects of small sije size in abend ance tor for the maya were skillful and tasty artisans in making ob ejects for personal wear and adorn ment metal tools of that time nil the maya did all that work with tools of stone lime they knew and how to make a stucco something like cement but a true arch they were not acquainted with the closest they came to it was the corbel arch no beasts of burden no wheel no steel or iron and et their work is the dispain of scientists tor for its rich beauty and luxuriousness of orna the great plumed serpent kukul can quetzalcoatl Quetzal coati of the aztecs azteca was venerated by them as much as the cross by us and its sinuous folds entwine everything from the hum ble shrine on the seashore to the re curning embellishment of frieze al tar and balustrade mens adron monts had the great serpent as the motive everywhere every subject attested to the veneration of this great god the men wore alore nose plugs and their faces the second part or volume two pleased me really more than the first volume for it gave in colors the sides of the done so care fully that one stands in awe of the skill of mrs ann axtell morris and jean chariot who copied piece by piece mrs morris work Is tul ful any person who reads a book hovers over that part which direct ly appeals to the reader readers s tastes I 1 found a fascination in the second volume an appeal that never falls to grip I 1 will not let the book go out of my hands but any person who is sim ilaray attuned and wants to enjoy a wonderful volume may come in and examine it at any length I 1 in vite those who wish to know more of the maya and what has been recover ed of their work to come in and study these two volumes the subject of the ancient maya Is absorbing these vol unites give an exhaustive treatment ot of their sculpture their mural dec orations their architecture their art and Us its embellishment A thorough kaudy ot of th I 1 two ro lame will vill civo the reader an authoritative aduca tion of maya culture as exemplified in the temple of the warriors at chichen itza yucatan to briefly recapitulate certain tea fea tures only of ancient maya life the men liked a nose plug a bar of jade inserted through the septum of the nose how it ever could be worn why it wasn gasn t forever getting in the way why it was looked on as a mark of distinction I 1 cant can t answer the men their faces the women of rank wore the most gorgeous em brol dery the richest of roven dress ies tes and all this skillfully and pains wrought in exact est detail in the stone sculptures 0 the motive of the great plumed serpent overshadowed all else his colls coils entwined men priests the vie vic tim on the stone of sacrifice in tact fact a scene depicts a victim lying prone on the folds of and the priest with arm uplifted chipped stone knife in hand to cut open the victim victims s brea t N a I 1 L bac a stroke and snatch the pumping heart aloft to propitiate the good will of the ser pent god the over dressing ot of priests the masks on dignitaries the plumes a long all these are typical ot of the maya the jaguar seat of honor the snail number emerging from the widespread jaws of the purposeful debasement and car of captives the colored friez or about the altars th little atlan tean figures supporting the altar all these things may be seen in faith ful in these two volum eg es A seashore scene in colors I 1 have a number of photos sent me by the courtesy of the carnegie in ution and will draw upon them from time to time in the near future in writing of chichen itza and the temple ot of the warriors Warr fors but one 03 pec lully do I 2 want to vold tori for treatment by itself A native ar aist s conception in paint of a village on the sea shore and each person at his dally daily task so appealing was it I 1 bought lantern slides of it and at every re reading rereading of the book I 1 stop long and fondly over that painting that tor for another day I 1 thank the carnegie institution tor for this gift and for the many photos of maya subjects and I 1 will do my best to disseminate knowledge of that civilization to the group of readers avith which I 1 am in contact |
