Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-23
FANoUs IDOL.


Oue or shs Relics Or ne Axsees Preservation
sAe ssnsy ~ AschBoisstsss.
New Orleans Times Democrat
Il lisa matter for profound regret that
the icosoclastic zeal Of tho conquerors
should have led them 10 destroy 80
many precious antiquities which might
serve "a clcws 10 much that is cnigmati-
cal in the past history Of Mexico. In
their anxiety to convert the natives to .
higher form Of faith they determined
70 eradicate IL possible all traces
of the former superstiticns and hesthen-
ish practices, not being deferred by any
considerations as to the possible loss
that might accrue to science from such
wholesale demolition. Some few OBJ
iccts, however, escaped the general
ruin, and among others the hidcous idol
which occupies so conspicuous posi-
ton behind the Calendar Stone. At
first sight this uncouth monster
seems an unsightly mass OF hands
and claws, in the midst of which a
death g head appears with CHASTITY promi-
pence. On o closer examination we
find that the statue represents woman.
Instead of face she has the head of q
serpent, the folds Of which extend
around the body, while the dress is
formed of innumerable snakes. She is
still further adorned by necklace OF
hands, and at her girdle, in front and be-
hind. she wears skull; the feet, rude
ly and ciumsily carved, terminate in
huge claws, and at the base of the
statue is mark which indicates some
affinity with the god of death.
This complex deity, composed of so
many heterogeneous elements, has been
the constant wonder Of the vulgar and
the subject Of endless speculation
among the learned. The commonly re-
ceived belief is that the figure is the
personification Of the dread Hultzilo-
pochtli. the Aztec Mars, but those ini-
tiated into the mysteries of archaeology
reject this hypothesis, and dispute
as to whether it be the Goddess
Teoyoamiqui, who 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 process of time. trans
formed into humming-birds or Coatili-
cue, the great earth goddess. " The
latter was considered the progenitrix of
mankind; she was worshipped in the
grand temple Of the City of Mexico, in
a part of the building called Atlanlico !;
woman was sacrificed to her every
year in the Tzacualli, which means the
place Of snakes. The number of hands
on the statue are symbols of the creative
power of the earth the skull ornament
on the waistbelt represents the deity
of death, as she was supposed to re-
ceiye 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 signi-
flying that the greater 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-
If the above theory be true with re-
gard to the curious and grotesque i'm
age that stands guard over the sacrid-
cial stone, it seems strangely apprOpri-
ate that after all the superstitious and
benighted worship paid to the Aztec
Cybele, she should at last find her tenn
pie within the halls of science. and that
instead of the sanguinary rites that
formerly defiled her affairs there should
now be only the the peaceful votive Of
ferings of learning and of genius.