Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-03-27
THE GREAT MEXICAN PYRAMID.
The Pyramid OF the Sun at Teotihau
can and Its Early History.

'rte mos; COLOSSAL structure of hfe-
Historic man N America, known as the
pyramid ot the sun. is at Trotihuacan,
Mexico, iut faf from the capital Close
"a the great py ramid stands the pyramid
of the moon. which the builders regard
81 as TIC Wife Of the sun. aud sur
rts,utdinG them ar nearly two hundred
mounds. of greater III lesser magni
tutle, which, tradition says, We're crown
ed by temples and public buildings.
Who the builders We're is not positively
known, though some historians credit
them to the ToltccS; others to the To-
tGnaCs, who annotated tn" Tultecs. By
all they are regarded as having been of
Il religious character. The ToltecS are
believed to have settled in the ancient
city Of Tula. near the capital of Mexico.
about al \. ID. In any event, the pyra-
mids are of great antiquity. According
to tradition, the Toltecs were famous
meund builders, and they mingled with
ther reverence for Il supreme being the
mythical religion of astral Worship. No
images We're allowed in the chambers
of these pyramids, the offerings being
pcrfumed flowers and sweet scented
gums
Two hundred and sixty-eight steps
lead to the summit of the pyramid of
TIE sun, which is 2l6 feet high. 1t is
76l feet square at the base, and the
summit is 50 by i05 feet. Half way up
there is a stairway leading to the inte-
rior of the pyramid, which has not yet
been explored, although ii Is supposed to
contain the hidden sarcophagi of Toltec
priests, or of the ancient Toltec kings
The work of restoration is proceeding
under direction of the Mexican govern
ment. and already many strange Things
have been brought TO light-pieces of
Jade ana obSidian, arrow heads, little
heads of burned clay and earthen Jars
Of antique form. One little piece of
cloth was found, which * carefully
guarded i'm IL" museum. The pyramid
of the moon, which is smaller than its
mate. is still covered with a mantle Of
grass, heavy undcrbrush ana trees This
pyramid will soon be restored. 1t is
100 feet high, while the base is 10 by
AZ Feet
Between the two pyramids there lies
what is known as the Street of the
Dead, and in what is called the salon
eminent, are some remarkable designs
and archaeological treasures, showing
that the ancient Toltecs were artists in
the use of beautiful colors, especially
pinks and greens. Nearby the salon Is
what is known as the citadel" of the
buried city. large mound, surrounded
by tftecn smaller ones Altogether,
there are $50 mounds surrounding the
two pyramids, some of them evidently
for defense. Mr.. Galloway SAYS:
If only on some bright, sunny day the
pageant could return. as we picture il
during the Tcitec dynasty, what re-
markable sight it would afford Every
terrace filled with strange people with
strange costumes, in which gold and
silver, and the saudy plumage of tropi-
ca, birds lent their willing service.
In the words of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. king
of the Toltees, who died about the year
1410, is found the answer:
All round. the world is but a sepul-
cher. and there is nothing that lives on
the surface that shall not be hidden
and entombed beneath it, The things
OF yesterday are no more today, and the
things OF today shall cease. perhaps, on
the morrow. There glories have also
all PASSED away, like the fearful smoke
that issues from the throat of Popo-
catopetl. with no other existence than
the record on the page of the chronicle.
The great, the wise, the valiant and the
beautiful, alas, where are they now: