The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-07-07
Temples of tho sun.

In Persia, In ancient times, they had
temples which they called "remples of
the Sum-" and they worshlped tho sun
always. They felt that 1t was he who
presided ovor the destinles of mankind,
who gave them tho light Of day and
also warmth, who was the founder of
their empire, and IN nearly every city
temples dedicated to the sun were raised.
They acknowledged Supreme Being,
Creator of the world in fact, but he
did not seem to hold the first place In
their hearts, for only one small Temple
was erected to HIM. The grandest tenn l..
pie OF all was IN the city Of Cuzco aud 1t
was such rich temple that it was called
"Cortcamcho," which meant "The Place
OF Gold." IL was ,bult of hewn stene, 80
beautifully put together. the place Of join.
Ing could not be discovered, and 1t con-
sisted of chief building with chapels
adjoining, and several other inferior
buildings, and covered quite an area.
Every thing inside the temple was gorgeous
beyond description. On the western wall
the Sun Deity WAS represented. 1t con-
sisted OF a human face surrounded by rays
OF light. This face and figure was en-
graved on al immense plate of gold,
massive and heavy and thlckly bestrewn
with diamonds, emcrnlds and other pre-
clous stones. When the sun rose in the
morning, the figure was so placed in tho
temple the light fell full upon it, making
a most dazzling effect and all the gold IN
the room (and the walls were adorned and
lnlald and ovcrlaid with gold) caught up
the glory and reflected it, and everywhere
were shining plates Of sold and heavy
ornaments OF the precious metal and those,
too, sent back flood OF light as the sun.
beams fell upon them. One of the
smaller chapels was dedicated to the moon,
tne next deity of Importance, styled the
h1other OF tho lncas." All the dccora-
uons or this room, as well as the figure
representing the moon, and the FURNISHED
plates, etc., were Of silver. Then there
were other chapols-one consecratcd to
the stars, another to the RAINBOW, and au-
other to thunder and lightning. All these
belonged, you must remember, to the
Temple of the Sun. Everything used in
connection with the worship OF the sun
was OF gold and silver. There were
dozen Or moro silver vases of immense
size, standing on the floor of the main
room, filled with Indian corn. "rne
censers for the perfumes, the cwcrs which
held the sacred water, the plpes which
conducted it through subtcrraheau chan
nels into the buildings, the reservoir that
received 1t, were all Of gold or silver"
lhen there were artificial gardens outside,
with plants in them, curlously constructed
OF SILVER and gold ami precious stones;
thcre were ANIMALS of gold, life size. and
even the agricultural implements used IN
the garden were Of the precious metal.
Inc name or Inca was aDDlicd Il the
SovcrcISns Of Peru as well as 10 all those
males who descended from them. The
sovereign was far. above his people, even
lhe h"olesl Of The Inca nobility could not
ehter into The presence Of the rcigning
Inca without making bare his feet and
carrying slight burden To signify homage
Ine Inca was considered the SUMS rcprc.
sentative, and he claimed to be vastly
superior 10 all others, and lived and
aressca III grand style. He had Il mum
per Oh Wives. great many children and
oeVotCd attendants. When an Inca died,
his wealth did not descend to his heir,
put an his treasures renamed Just as he
had left them, and all his palaces ex-
ccpl one were closed up forever. Thcv
pcllcVed the spirit would return some
Day and would require all his personal
effects. The funeral was au occasion
Tor grand display, and sometimes thous-
alfds-among them his wives and a,lcnd-
ants--wcic sacrificed ON his tomb. The
b~uy OF the Inca was cnbalmcd, and
robed IN royal ATTIRE, placed on 9 Il.
chair, taken to the Temple of the San.
There all the dead Incas snt with their
hands crossed and their heads inclined
IN the midst of all the gold and silver,
The men on the right and the queens on
Inc le1t OF the blazing cifigy Of the Sun.
Inc one paiacc or mansion Of The inca
'hat was not closed up was kept Just ~ if
inc owner had gone for a day and was
expected to return at anv moment. The
guard Was retained, the servants were all
at their posts and everything went on as
before. Sometimes entertainments were
PROVIDED In the name OF Il dca, inca by
the Captain of the guard stationed in the
uncloscd house OF the Inca. Then the
BODY OF the Inca would be brought out
into the public square with great pomp
and ceremony, and the display of gold and
silver plate and Jewels was something far
ahead OF anything we can now imagine.
The Peruvian process of cnbalming bodies
was as successful as the Egyptian, but it
ls supposed that 1t was much more simple
and brought about by exposing the body
to the action of tho peculiar and rarlfled
mountain atmosphere; add they were as
perfect as life, ''and not oven the hair of
an eyebrow lacking," while their coun.c-
nances retained thoir natural, some what
swarthy hue. a porLlon of the body, tho
lntestines, ETC., were buried and with
them quantity Of treasure, and 1t was at
t'is Llmc and place their wives and attend
ants were sacrificed.