The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-01-24
One of the Relics of the a,t.os puo,

One OF the Relics of the AEtecs Preserved
for the Study of Arobaeologists.
1t is matter for profound regret that
the ieonoclast zeal OF the conquerors
should have lead them to destroy so
many precious antiquities which might
serve as CLOVIS to much that is enigmat-
zeal in the past history of Mexico. In
their anxiety to convert the natives to
higher form of faith, they determined
to eradicate ifpossible all traces of the
former superstitious and heathenish
practices, not being deferred by any
considerations as to the possible loss
that might accrue to science from such
wholesale demolition. Some few OBJ
Jects, however, escaped the general ruin,
and among other the hideous idol which
occupies so conspicuous a position be-
hlnd the Calendar Stone. AT first sight
thls uncouth monster seems an insight
~ mass of hands and claws. in the
midst of which deaths head appears
with CHASTITY prominence. On q close
examination we find that the statue
represents woman; instead of face
she mas the head OF serpent, the folds
OF which extend around the body, while
the dress is formed of innuil cradle
snakes. She is still further adorned by
necklace OF hands, and at her girdle.
III front and behind, she wears skull;
the feet, rudsly and clumsily carved,
terminate in huge claws, and at the
base OF the statue is q mark which indi-
Gates some affinity with the god of
death.
This complex deity, composed of so
many heterogeneous elements, has been
"a 4 sl.av. .Nrt h..
The subject of endless speculation
among the learned. The commonly re-
ceived belief is that the figure is the
personitlcation of the dread Huitzilo-
pochtli, the aztec Mars, but those initia-
ted into the mysteries of archaeology
reject this hypothesis, and dispute as
TO whether it be the Goddess Teoyoam-
lqul, VINO was supposed to receive the
souls OF warriors killed in battle, the
latter being sent to dwell for season
In the sun, where they were, in the pro-
cess OF time, Transformed into hum
mlng-birds; or Coatlicue, the great
goddess. "The latter was considered
the grogenltrlX of mankind; she was
worshipped in the grand temple of the
City OF Mexico, in part of the building
called Atlanico; q woman was sarri,
need to her every year in the Tzacual-
II, which means the place of snakes.
The number OF hands on the statute are
symbols of the creative power of the
earth; the skull ornament on the waist
belt represents the deity of death, AS
she was suppOs d TO receive the bodies
OF all who died, and keep them in her
bosom till the day of resurrection. The
teeth Tlaloc, the god of the waters, are
introduced as signifying that the gr eat
er deities of earth, life, creator and fire
were thought to repose on water, and
the feet of these deities are generally
ornamented with shells OF the sea-
II the above theory be true with re-
gard to the curious and grotesque i'm
age that stands guard over the sacri-
hcial stone, it seems strangely appro
pirate that after all The superstitious
and benighted worship paid to the Az
tee Cybele, she should at last find her
temple within the halls of science, and
that instead of the sanguinary rites
that formerly defiled her affairs there
should now be only tho peaceful votive
OF learning and of genius Mexico
Letter to New Orleans Times Democrat.