The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-01-02
AN AMERICAN PYRAMID.
We Needn't Go to Egypt to Visit Cheops
So Long as We Have Cholu6.

1t is not necessary to leave North
American soil to visit a genuine pyra-
mid which will compare in size with
the pyramid Of Cheops itself. 1t can
be reached without crossing the sea; in
fact. a railway will carry us almost TO
its base. a branch of the Mexican &
Vera Cruz railway runs from ApiZaco
to Puebla, and horse railway runs
from Puebla to Cholula, about nine
miles distant, where the great pyramid
stands.
Although it is on American soil, no.
body knows just when this pyramid
was built. ii is very old-that we
know-and may be older than that of
Cheops, in Egypt.
The Aztecs invaded Mexico thous-
and years ago and it was standing
then. Perhaps the Toltecs or the
Omleces had a hand in its construc-
ton, or perhaps it was there when they
came.
Who they were what they were, why
they built this huge structure-all these
are questions which have been asked in
vain Certain it is that it was built
by civilized race, one skilled in engi-
neering.
The measurement of the pyramid
differ. Humboldt giving the sides of the
base at l, 440 feet each, and Bandaller
made the north side ], 900 feet, the east
side l ,026 feet, the south side 1873 feet,
and the west side 1000 feet. The
height is about IA feet or more from
the base to the top.
A view which Humboldt gives shows
that formerly the four terraces of the
pyramid were very distinctly to be
seen, but now, owing to the crumbling
of the sharp edges of the terraces by
the action of rain and time, the pyra-
midal aspect is not so Immediately to
be discerned. But near view and
not very minute examination show at
once the artificial character of the
mound.
A broad paved road winds up to the
top, says writer in G0ll5en Days, where
in the time of the conquest stood an
Aztec temple. This site is now occu-
pied by a pretty church, built by the
Spaniards The Aztec temple was
dedicated to the mysterious fair god, !"
Quetzacoatl. of whom tradition is that
he came from over the sea in ancient
times to teach the Aztecs the arts of
civilization.
There is some ground for supposing
that this NEUROLOGICAL parsonage was
Christian missionary who found his
way from Grecnland--in old times
fairly civilized land-to Mexico, who
lived with the fOrefathers of the later
Aztecs and taught them many arts.
He was called THE god of the air his
statue was crowned with a golden
mitre; he wore gold collar, turquoise
earrings, and carried a scepter studded
with gems and a shield painted with
emblems of the four winds.
The pyramid is built Of adobe brick,
and it is supposed that it served both
as fortified place and site for wor-
ship. At the top was temple of the
gods, and on the terraces We're dwell
ings, the whole making fortified
pueblo, no doubt impregnable to assault
in the days before gunpowder was
known
This pyramid and the smaller ones
in the vicinity resemble marvelously
the Assyrian and Chaldean temples,
which Layard and other explorers have
so minutely described. Choiula has
never been explored, but doubtless
contains rare antiquarian treasures.
At the time OF the conquest, in cut
ting of the end of the pyramid to make
room for more direct route from
Puebla to Mexico, vast hollow cham
Der under the structure was disclosed
TO view.
q y,f ,.,1
by beams of cypress. In it We're two
skeletons, some idols, and Il large num-
Der of glazed vases.
From the top Of the pyramid can be
seen on the plain below some curious
mounds, one some what resembling an
elephant-an mmistaka1,y artificial,
showing that this region was once a
religious gathering ground, Il sort of
America Mecca.
This view is substantiated by the
number of relies that abound. The
natives ply quite trade in the selling
of miniature idols dug up all around
the pyramid and mounds. No doubt
some are spurious, but by exercising
proper judgment many relics are to be
had that are undoubtedly genuine.
Cholulu has one great advantage
over Cheops. The latter is built on
flat and arid plain. Cholula stands in
the midst of u magnificent scenery.
Perhaps this is rather a disadvantage,
the pyramid being dwarfed in appear
ance by the huge mountains. which
form vast wall, separating the valley
of Puebla from the valley of Mexico.
From the top of the pyramid there is
TO be seen good-siZcd hill lying up
under the base of Popocatapetl. 1t
looks like a sailboat alongside Of the
Great Eastern.
mother directions one sees Malinche,
the most curious of mountains, and the
lofty. ''star-shining" peak of Orizaba.
The entire district is beautiful, and at
the same time impressive, and should
be better known to American tourists.