The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1903-07-23

the capital and the wonder of the En-
pire was at CuZco, where. under the
munificence of successive sovereigns,
it became so enriched that it received
the name of Coricancha, or "Place of
Cold: and the MONDAY sun in all its
representation-coul not surpass it in
brilliancy" Il consisted of a principal
building and several chapels, covering
a large extent of ground in the heart
of the city and completely encompassed
by high wall, also of cut and polished
stone. The work was so finely execu-
ted that an early Spaniard declared that
but two edifces in all Europe would
bear any comparison to it. The in
terror of the temple was literally a
mine of gold. On its western wall was
emblazoned reminder of the Sun-God,
an enormous figure of the human face,
made of pure gold, from which golden
rays darted in all directions. This
massive plate of gold was thickly pow
dered with diamonds, emeralds and
other precious stones, and so situated
in front of the great eastern portal that
he rays of the morning sun Shone di-
rectly upon it, filling the whole place
with one blaze of light and splendor,
reflected back from the thousands of
golden ornaments with which the walls
and ceilings were everywhere incrusted.
In the figuratlve language of the peo-
pie, gold was tears shed by the sun,
and every part of the interior gloWed
with FURNISHED plates and studs of the
precious metal. Underneath the great
golden face were several chairs, or
thrones, of solid gold, i'll which were
seated the embalmed bodies Of the
dead Incas. The cornices which sur
rounded the sanctuary walls were of
the same costly material; and broad
belt, or frieZe, of gold let into the
stone work. ran around the whole eX-
terror
Adjoining this principal structure
were several smaller temples, one to
the Moon. one to Venus, one to the
Pleiades. one to Thunder, and Light
ming, and another to the Rainbow all
profusely decorated with gold and silver
Though the Sun was their principal
Deity-being supposed to preside in a
particular manner over the deStlnies OF
man, by giving light and warmth to the
nations, as we'll as life to the vegetable
world besides being the founder of
their Empire and the father of their
royal dynasty-t4ey also acknowledged
various other objects of worship as
being in some way connected with the
Sun, There was the Moon, his sister
wife: and the Stars, believed to serve as
part of her heavenly train-except
Venus. fairest of them all, whom they
called Chasca, "the youth with curling
locks and adored as the Suns page,
because he attends SO closely to the
rising and setting of that luminary.
In Thunder and Lightning they recog-
nized the Suns dread ministers Of ven
geance; and the Rainbow they worship
ped as his approving smile. A hundred
objects in nature also served for inferior
gods. The mighty sea, breaking with
ceaseless thunder upon the rocky coast,
impressed the jewellers of the desert
with reverence and awe: while the
elements, the wind, the rain, the earth,
the air, the mountains, rivers-every
thing which impressed them with ideas
of sublimity and power, or which ex-
ercised marked influence for the veal
or woe of man-came IN for share OF
worship. They also had a notion, not
unlike that professed by some OF the
schools of ancient philosophy, that
everything on earth had its archetype-
it's mother" as they expressed it
which must be held sacred, as being In
some sort it's spiritual essence. And
besides all these, their system embraced
the countless Deities of all the con-
quered nations, whose images were
transferred to Cuzco.
In the temple consecrated to the
Moon,-the deity considered second in
Importance, as being the mother of the
Incas-her etfigy was represented in
the same manner as that OF the Sun, on
vast plate that covered nearly one
side of the building. But this plate,
and all the other decorations Of her
temple, were of silver, instead of gold,