The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-01-03
Hist rio Temple TO be
Rebuilt in Met OpOHS

NEW YORK. Jan. 3.-New York Is
20 have reproduction OF the prenls-
toric Temple OF the Jaguars. the
ancient shrine OF the Maya race in
Iucatan. which archaeologists discov-
cred in ruins few years ago. The
temple viii be rebuilt here according
TO the original design and dimensions.
and viii be made the Columbus-ave.
entrance 10 the new extension OF the
American Museum OF Natural His
tory when completed.
The museum commissioned Edward
H. Thompson. an archaeologlst. OF
Cambridge. Mass. 20 so 20 lucatan
and make moldS for a full sized model
OF the ancient shrine. In addition 10
the molds. he took photographs and
made draMlngs-fiMr- Thompson owns
the ground In Nucatan on which the
temple stands.
The Temple OF the Jaguars is In
the ruined city OF Chichen liza, one
OF the largest and most important OF
the prehistoric settlements on the
peninsula OF Yucatan. OF the hun
dreds OF buildings which composed
the city eight still stand. and con
splcuous among them is the Temple
OF the Jaguars. so-called from the re
markable frieze OF Well carved
iaguars which. alternating with
shields. once extended around the
temple walls. Much of this frieze
has fallen OF, hut enough remains to
give the pattern and indicate to the
archaeologist the dimensions and dec
Grafton OF the building. The building
measures PA feet long by 30 feet
high and 80 feet thick.
Below the temple proper. which Is
two-chambered, says Mr.. Thompson
in the Museum Journal. the remains
Of what was once a third chamber
are stu visible, facing the east ana
resting directly upon the Level sur
/ face OF the great ground terrace
/ large portion OF its walls has FALLEN,
! but upon the portions OF. wall surface
still standing can be seen carvings
| in low relief OF intense interest.
"The entire front of this beautiiui
structure, as chaste and artistic III
| It's own way as the temples of Greece
land Rome. has fallen. Fractured and
| wrenched apart b. the growing tree
roots at the apex OF the roof, the
/ weakest point in the structure, the
| overweight OF the heavily ornamented
! facade caused the whole mass TO iall
outward. and. turning upon the tWo
/ SERPENT columns as upon gigantic ply
OTIS TO be tossed nearly clear OF the
,emnle nlatform. crashing down to the
rrrt-rrrti et.f-sf4aee- tife-e'-rAe mon
ial court fully 30 feet beneath.
/ The highest line OF carved stones
is above the level OF the general ter
race From the temple base on the
level OF the platform large and heavy
poles were bound together, wnhe
! strong ropes held them upright ana
fast and so permitted the frameworh
OF the scaffolding, OF smaller poies,
! 10 he erected. On this moving, shaN'
ing vet perfectly safe scanoldlhg o.
poles, with not nail or spike IN the
whole structure, We worked ana maze
the molds. 80.
THE element OF real danger was
| furnished by the disintegrating wall
+, material and the loose stones OF the
grouting. The softer mortar. wear
| ing away with the erosion or the cen
turies. has left the stones outcrop
ming at times falling OF their own
waieht and always a constant factoi
of danger to those working beneath
| them The high winds and ram
| storms that prevailed at this season
/ increased the difficulties of the unuer'
taking. tho
Once We had the work on the
northern facade all done, ant v .'i
done it was too. The long seet1ons
we're duly marked and noted; NOTHING
remained but the hot sun to DO us
mart in drying and hardening the piaS-
Ito naner surface. Even ~hlle we
were looking at 1t. with tired backs
hut satisfied hearts. black cloud heauS
snneared in the east, rose rapidly ana
hid the sun. We put the heaVy Tar
naulins over the nodded surfaces,
fxing them in place by the iron lotce
hooks spreading clips and screws
aanecialIy made for that purpose. NO
neei For when the strong wind came
q whipped the tarpaulins aloit, torn
and split like so many handkerchieis,
while the drying paper moids, one
wing go smoothly and trim on lne
carved stone surfaces. were scattereo
Far and wide as bits OF paper o'el
the tree tops 49,
After the molds were made tney
we're hacked In skusac grass cratei
IN uIanks made OF expacas Tree
trunks. carted over the rough coun-
tru 10 the port OF Progreso, ana lro1n
thare brought to New York. In -
large cases they now lie IN the s'oie
rooms Of the museum