The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-10-30
THE PYRAMIDS OF MEXICO.
No Records Show When the Ancient
Mounds Were Constructed.
(From the Chicago Daily News.l

(fTOIn the chicago Daily NeWS.J
Cholula, Mex.-This little town of
barely five thousand inhabitants is an
old place that was of considerable i'm
portance not only before the Spanish
conquest, but long before the Aztecs
1t was holy city, city of temples and
shrines, and even at the time of Cor
tez it contained hundreds of sanctu-
aries that were the object of pilgrim
ages from all over the country. The
plain all around Cholula was dotted
with pyramids of sacred character and
varying size. all of which were domi-
mated by the great temple of Quetzal-
coatl, the god of the air, that stood on
the summit of the artificial mound
called the pyramid of Cholula.
This pyramid, one of the sights of
Mexico, has at present the appearance
of natural hill of regular form 1t is
thickly grown with bushes and trees
and it's top is reached by a rough wind
ing road. Nowhere is a trace of its ar
tificial origin, and on the spot where
centuries ago stood the colossal statue
of Quetzalcoatl and where once burned
the eternal fires in honor of the god
now rises the Christian church of Nues-
ira Sonora de los Remedies
The pyramid of Cholula has a height
of about 175 feet, and, like the pyra-
mids of Egypt, its sides face the four
cardinal points. But, unlike the Egyp-
tan monuments. it was originally built
in terraces and could be easily assembled
by stairways leading to the sanctuary
which formed the apex The date of
its building is unknown, but when the
Spaniards came the Aztec legend as
cribed its erection to a race of giants
sprung from the survivors of a deluge.
Pyramids of the Sun and Moon.
While visit to the pyramid of Che
lula and. incidentally, to the small town
of the same name, is worth the travel
er's while, it does not compare in in
terest to the visit oof the pyramids of
Teotihuacan. thirty-five miles from
Mexico City. There the national gov
has uncovered the larger of
two great mounds known as the Pyra-
mids of the Sun and Moon, by remov-
ing from its sides all plant growth and
the thick layer of soil and conducting
an archaeological research on a scien-
tific basis, like the excavations of Pom
peii and Herculaneum. So far, nothing
has come to light that would serve to
dispel the mystery surrounding these
ancient monuments. OF their history
and origin nothing is known. There is |
no record of them existing, either in
writing or in hieroglyphic sculptures, al
though such may have been in evidence
at the time of the Spanish conquest |
But if there were any they certainly |
have been destroyed by the fanatic Hi |
1algos, and it now looks as if the secret |
Of these pyramids would forever remain !
for the little statuettes, i'm
Elements and other relics so far found |
IN the excavations do not contribute
anything toward a solution.
Passing by on a railroad train or ap-
them with an automobile, the |
pyramids look rather squatty and fail |
20 make the impression one gets when |
irving out to the pyramids of Gizeh |
rom Cairo. But after you have entered |
he Enclosure with the help of a per-
nit secured in Mexico City you are sur
Orised at the size of the Pyramid of |
he Sun, which is the one the govern |
nent has been excavating. 1t is built !
n three large terraces rising one on
op of the other. Its extreme height |
s 216 feet. The base lines do not form
IN exact regular square measuring 721 +
~ 761 feet, respectively The top plat
orm contains square water tank re-
of cement and fed by
modern pipe. 1t measures SO by 1O5 feet
me side of the pyramid.
Relics Are Few.
a guide, furnished by the excavation
accompanies the visitor
verywhere, and no cameras are allowed
within the inclosure. This rule is a lit
lie graft" for the official photographer,
Who sells views of the pyramid and
ther interesting photographs from a
mall office in the executive building.
had letter of Introduction to the di-
ector and was shown the small col
ection of antiques kept. in a locked
DOM. According to this gentleman, the
elics found on the ground, consisting
f small vessels, figures and masks Of
bsiclan and other stone, while vaguely
imilar to Egyptian relics of the same
haracter and supporting in a certain
Measure theory OF racial relationship
With the people of the Nile Valley, do II
ot tell story that would help to clear
he mystery of these monuments.
The Mound Of the Moon is ISL feet
Ugh with a base of 1875 by 511 feet. 1t n
Oh,