The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-08-01
lpy walter A. Kerr OF Ogden }


hurried down the aisle OF the car and
In a moment found myself on the
station platform, looking toward the
north. seemingly overcome With a
feeling of awe and wonder as be.
held in the distance the Pyramid oil
the Sun, and its sister, the Pyramid
OF the Moon.
Silhouetted against the mountains,
carpeted with natures verdure, with
It's top reaching into the azure blue.
this gigantic structure, the "teocalo
of the sun, stands like a sentinel.
clothed In jewoled mantle of white.
looking down. as II has done for cen.
turtles. upon as beautiful valley as
rye could wish To behold
[ soon found myself wandering
through narrow streets and winding
l&Aes, whose sides were lined vita
tall Oregon c0cti," workable barriers
agSinSt intrusion. Here and there
testled rudely built Indian hut. MT
constructed OF mud, as the houses OF
northern Mexico are. but of lava.
picked mp undoubtedly on the little
farm. and the leaves of the cactus
plant OF whicn the roof was made
With the aid OF a kind Indian. who
%illlngly offered to show me The way,
| arrived. niter an hours rambling,
fl the foot of the Pyramid of the
Sun. The official in charge had gone
Tor his mail. so that meant a wait Tor
the hour. II being law that no one
visit without permission. I found
somewhat comfortable seat on a lava
rock, sat down and pondered as nv
eyes surveyed the gigantic structure
before me.
My thoughts ran something like
this: The pyramid is nearly AS
large as the great Pyramid of Cheops
te!ng 761 feet by II fee. at the base.
ard 2l6 feet high, and, according 20
tradition, WAS built by the Gods his
torians agreeing. however, that il
Is at least 1900 years old A Toltec
city once flourished near these tenn
pies, and was famed throughout the
land. From all parts of this city the
p ople could see this great shrine
which crowned the summit, which is
So feet by los feet I'm dimensions
Tho statue of the Sun adorned With
breastplate OF gold and many en-
bellishments of silver stood I'm this
Shrine or temple 10 which Toltec and
Aztec kings came to he crowned.
Here many well-intending priest
pricked his arm or his ear or his lip
With the cactus thorn for the purpose
5f drawing blood, whereby he might
streak the face OF his God. as well
as bis own before performing some
sacred rite; here many captive
iaEen III war was stretched uDon the
'acrificlal stone and held by prieStly
1ands while his heart was removed,
md cast still t"4V~ving. at ihe feet
IF the war god. Huit2ilopochtli Here
many a fair maiden followed the
Chanting priests as they made their
WHY up the winding stairs only TO
receive like treatment (Woe to the
person who was So unfortunate as %
have had light hair and a fair com.
plexion, for such persons were sac
rstced at the annual feasts.)"
The officer, by this time. had ar
rived and his voice aroused ne from
10y drenmy state In a few moments
stood In the museum building. sur.
rounded by hundreds OF works OF ART
j say art. for they were such Al.
though rudely carved. they smoke vol.
uBles. For some few years the gov.
tSnment has been eXcaVating OF
rather removing the entire facing u
the pyraimd. and in so doing has
found hundreds of valuable relics
l Nigh say here that the pyramids
are composed of five layers OF earth
ana volcanic rock. each layer being
complete pyramid in itself. the outer
rlace being faced with masonry,
and then plaS;ered over with thIY
coating OF line mortar.
Coming out Of the museum. we
walked along the railway track. which
passes through the ruins Of dozens
Of houses. The ground is covered
WIN pieces OF pottery and obsidiap
This way, said the kind officer.
and We shall visit the Ciudad Sub
terfanca" (Subterrapean cityD De.
scending by means OF a fight of stone
steps, probably fifteen In num5er we
realized that it had been a CITY.
wandered about from room to- room
The walls are as smooth as polished
marble, adorned here and there by a
lew panied designs in black and red
The 1oors are covered with hard
cement and are quite level
Here Is the well. spoke the watch
man OF this historic and Interesting
city He fastened a string to his Ian.
tern and. letting It down into tbo
WELL could see the sparkling water
The we'll is about three feet I'm diam
eter and thirty feet deep, and is lined
with stone
We Tetraced our steps. making our
way back To the large pyramid
was very anxious 10 climb It, hut was
informed that such a thing would moi
We allowed | was given, however.
one consolation which was that
might climb the Pyramid of the Moon
Passing the west base oil the terracpd
Pyramid OF the Sun. the officer point.
cd out the great stalrways which lead
In the summit. Part OF the stems arc
modern, because during the excava.
tions many rocks tumbled down. and
these have been replaced in their for.
lner positions. We walked along A
broad, we'll paved road. Il camino dc
los muertos" (the path cv the dead).
and were soon within the sacred walls
of the Temple Of Agriculture Hero
may be seen the best of all the mural
paintings. The hand of nature has
erased much, so the Mexican govern.
ment has built protection that wards
OH rain and wind.
In about five minutes we were at
the foot Of the Pyramid of the Moon.
and my guide being tired. made the
ascent This huge structure is not AS
large as its brother, measuring only
oil feet by i26 feet at the base and
lo1 feet In height. AS yet no excavat-
ing has been done. so no one knows
what the future may reveal
hoN