The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-22

Observation-Disclosures Of Paved
Streets and an Extensive sever
age systcm-ssonserfuI aEonoIiths.
The entire world is nov eyineing a re-
vived interest in tales brought by trave-
Iers from an regions, of buried cities and
ruined temples scattered over various
parts Of the universe. It Is not only in
the East, but on the Western Continent as
well that archaeologists and searchers
into ancient mysteries are discovering
proofs OF a civilization older perha ps than
Egypt, and of people who lived and built
and died Yhiie Europeans still dweit in
caves.
IN many parts of Honduras are found
traces of these people, the Maya people
they are called. but the place most inter-
estiBg and richest in relics is the city Of
Copan. Long ago when the Spaniards
we're searching for gold in Central Amerf-
ca and Mexico they found traces OF this
old civilization, but the accounts which
they left of what they had seen are but
brief ard full OF priestly traditions. fer
the accounts were usually written By the
missionaries, who tried 10 interpret ali
that they found in this land IN the light OF
Bible history.
In charming valley in the tropics, 2rith
hlsn mountains rising on ali sides and
river flowing near by Is the buried city
OF Copan, now being unearthed and
brought to light that il may tell us the
wonderful story of its history. This work
is being done by the Pes body Museum OF
Harvard College. Copan is like several
other buried cities of Yucasan IN its gen
fz-zs
vas the Oldest and most important Of the
MAYA cities As far back as 1916 a span
ish traveller told OF this ruined city and
added that the Indians about there
seemed to have no traditions concerning
It, so that even IN the sixteenth century
the memory OF its glory had passed away.
Ire valley in which CoDan is situated
is a level plain about seven miles long by
two vide and through the city flows the
Copan River. All over the plain are scat
tered the ruins Of the stone houses where
dwelt the mobiles of the ancient kingdom.
Paved streets and al extensive system OF
canaIa for sewerage show that the inhab-
itants Of Copan were advanced in the art
of city building. In the centre of the city,
on the bank OF the CoPan River. stand
great mounds Of ruins, evidently the tenn
pies Of the people
The largest of these IS a pyramid IN
shape and its four sides face the four car
dinai points of the compass; but unlike
the Pyramids Of Egypt this seems not 10
have been built as a burying place. but
simply az an elevation on which TO erect
the places Of worship. Where the river
has swept away one side CT the pyramid
layer after layer OF ruins are exposed,
showing that the temples which are now
being unearthed are but the last and most
highly developed production OF a race xho
abandoned the old and used it as a foun-
=
are thus led TO believe this valley OF Co
pan was the centre Of the Maya civiliza-
ton, and that IL the work is allowed to
90 on far enough the key 20 this ancient
culture viii be found there.
N the time OF its glory the summit Of
the pyramid was reached by stsirwavs of
the most wonderful dimensions and beau
tifui workmanship In 1898 one OF these
stairways vas discovered. covered with
the debris OF the temple above, which in
falling had carried with IL the upper part
OF the stairway itself but the lower part
was found intact, enabling Us TO form
some idea "a the grandeur OF the scene
IN the days 2f its prime Upon the face
OF each step are carvings in the HERO
glyphs which, If we could read them.
would tell US a wonderful history. The
stairway is thirty feet wide and ascends
10 the top SC the pyramid 80 feet above
At intervals IN the centre OF the stairs
are huge figures in stone. seated Gpen
thrones and attired IN elaborate robes.
while along the parapsts at the sides are
other carved figures peeriRg from the
mouths Of mystic monsters The who're
must have been most impressive spec
tacie in the days of the city's splendor
On the summit of this central pyramid
flor there are many smaller onesl are
temples. not one but many These are all
buildings Of great extent and the areaed
-IrSng
use of material as well as decoration
Everything in Copan IS decorated Hardly
a stone is found but has its surface eov-
cred with figures and representations Of
strange and mystic designs The mono
iiths great stones standing alone, display
this curious marking, and probably hold
upon their surface much of the history
of the race
The tombs Of an ancient people often
tell much % their history, and IN Copan
many temks have been found closely con-
nected with the houses OF the wealthy. The
buryiug cloths aud even the skeletons
themselves have crumbled away, bat many
flint instruments. ornaments OF Obsidian
and even pearl were found. besides beauti-
fuI specimens of pottery, which, in some
cases. were painted with figures OF men
and women and finished with a polish; all
these things peint 10 high state Of eui-
tuIe
The history of Copan is still a closed
book Many years must pass before We can
have an IDEA of the glory OF its people
Perhaps isever shall man know the secret
Of it's destruction Whether IN the midst
Of battle its temples were RACED and its
inhabitants slain. or whether by the more
powerful forces Of nature It's structures
we're shaken 10 the foundations and its
peopie in terror obliged to dee-au this
may never be revealed
Long ere the Spanish of the Sixteenth
century spread their rule over southern
North America, he fame of Copan mast
have faded. else the ever ambitious mis-
sienary or gold hunter would have heard
OF its glory and the story of its masni-
icenee would have come TO us together
with the story of its overthrow or its
conversion. No such tale, however. has
reached US. Copan lived out its days in
ignorance Of European culture and cru
city. Its people lived and built and died
without a knowledge of Spain or Egypt.
and today we can but begin to read back
into its ruins the story of its glcry and
its mystery.