Some interesting facts in our own country in connexion with these
Pyramids. Pyramids of Micocatl in Mexico, and of Quanhuahuac
and Cholula. Their history. Notices of a deluge, and confusion
of languages, in the picture writing of Mexico. Pyramids in the
Polynesian islands. “High Places” of Scripture. Temple of Belus.
Universality of this kind of structure explained. Our western mounds.
View from the Pyramids of Ghizeh. The Sphinx. Visit to the plain of
Memphis, and the Military and Naval School at Toura.
We are stretched on the sand in a tomb at Ghizeh, gazing on the solemn
and dreamy figures every where painted on its walls. They carry our
thoughts back to the ancient days, and a spirit of musing steals
gently over us. What is the origin of the Pyramids? Nay, start not,
kind reader, for I am not going to enter into a disquisition on this
worn-out subject, or to rake up old theories, but to mention a few
circumstances connecting it with our own country, which have always
appeared to me to be extremely interesting, and which do not seem to
have received the attention that they deserve. It would be somewhat
strange if the obscurity which has hung over these monuments from
the earliest times should be cleared away by discoveries in this new
country of ours.
About twenty-four miles east of the city of Mexico, in a plain, called
by the aborigines, _Micocatl_, or _the Path of the Dead_, are two
Pyramids, one 180, the other 144 feet in height, the former being 676
feet on each side, at the base. They are constructed of clay mixed with
small stones, which was encrusted on the outside with a thick coating
of porous amygdaloid. They presented four stories or platforms, each
considerably narrower than the one next below; and on the top were
originally two colossal statues of stone, covered with plates of gold,
designed to represent the sun and moon. They are surrounded by several
borders of smaller pyramids, about thirty feet in height, forming
streets, which run exactly in the direction of the four cardinal points.
Eastward from these, as we descend the Cordilleras, towards the gulf
of Mexico, is the Pyramid of Papantla. It had seven stories, and was
higher in proportion to its width than any other in the country, being
59 feet in elevation, and 82 feet on each side at the base. It was
built entirely of hewn stones, of extraordinary size, regularly shaped
and neatly fitted together. It had three staircases, each leading to
the summit; and the stairs were ornamented with hieroglyphics, and
small niches symmetrically arranged.
South-eastward from the ancient city of Quanhuahuac, on the western
declivity of the Cordillera of Anahuac, rises an isolated mass of rock,
358 feet in height, shaped by human labor into a regular conic form.
It has five stories or terraces, the sides of which incline inward as
they ascend, each being covered above with masonry; the uppermost of
these is 236 feet from north to south, and 315 from east to west; and
is encircled by a wall of hewn stone six feet and a half in height.
The base of the hill is also surrounded by a deep and very wide ditch,
whose outer circumference measures nearly two miles and a half. In the
centre of the upper natural platform was a Pyramid of five stories, of
which only one now remains. It faces exactly the four cardinal points,
and is on one side 67, and on the other 57 feet in extent. The stones
of which it is composed are regular in shape, fitted neatly together,
and are covered with hieroglyphics, each figure occupying several
stones; among them we discovered heads of crocodiles spouting water,
and men sitting cross legged, as is the custom in Eastern nations.
But the greatest, and perhaps the most ancient of the Pyramids of
this country, is one on the plain of Cholula, which is separated from
the valley of Mexico by a chain of volcanic mountains, extending from
Popocatepetl towards Rio Frio and the peak of Telapor. This Pyramid was
also so constructed as to face exactly the four cardinal points, and
had a base of 1449 feet on each side; it rose by four terraces, and had
an elevation of 164 feet. It was built of unbaked bricks, three inches
thick by fifteen in length, alternating with layers of clay. In some
places it has been penetrated, and chambers have been laid open, in one
of which were found two skeletons, idols of basalt, and a great variety
of vases, polished and varnished. On the summit of this Pyramid was an
altar dedicated to Quatzee, the god of the air.
These Pyramids of Mexico were in existence when this region was
conquered by the Aztecks, in the year 1190 of our era; and were
attributed by the conquerors to their predecessors, the Toltecks, a
powerful and highly civilized nation, who had obtained possession of
the country about the year A.D. 648. But whether they were not built by
another people long anterior to the Toltecks, it is now impossible to
say, though it appears probable that they were.
Of the origin of the last of these Pyramids there is preserved, in
the Mexican picture writing,[3] a clear and distinct account, which
appears to throw light, not only on the Pyramids of Mexico, but on
those of Egypt, and on the Pyramidal form so common among the temples
of Hindostan.[4] It is as follows: “Before the great inundation, which
took place 4800 years after the creation of the world, the country
of Anahuac[5] was inhabited by giants. All those who did not perish,
were transformed into fishes, save seven,[6] who fled into caverns.
When the waters had subsided, one of these giants, Xalhua, surnamed
the builder, went to Chohollan, where, as a memorial of the mountain
Haloc, which had served for an asylum for himself and his six brethren,
he built an artificial hill in form of a Pyramid. He ordered bricks to
be made in the provinces of Tlamanalco, at the foot of the mountain
range of Cocotl; and to convey them to Cholula, he placed a file of
men, who passed them from hand to hand. The gods beheld with wrath this
edifice, the top of which was to reach the clouds. Irritated at the
daring attempt of Xalhua, they hurled fire on the Pyramid. Numbers of
the workmen perished; the work was discontinued, and the monument was
afterwards dedicated to Quetzalcoatl, the god of the air.”[7]
To this Humboldt adds, “Of the different nations that inhabited Mexico,
(at the time of the conquest,) paintings representing the deluge of
Coxcox are found among the Aztecks, the Miztecks, the Zapotecks, the
Tlascalans, and the Mechoacanese. The Noah, Xisuthrus or Menou of
these nations is called Coxcox, Teo-Cipactli, or Tezpi. He saved
himself conjointly with his wife Xochiquetzal in a bark; or, according
to other traditions, on a raft of _ahue huete_ (cupressus disticha.)
The painting represents Coxcox in the midst of the water, lying in a
bark. The mountain, the summit of which, crowned by a tree, rises above
the waters, is the peak of Colhuacan,[8] the Ararat of the Mexicans.
The horn which is represented on the left, is the phonetic hieroglyphic
of Colhuacan. At the foot of the mountain appear the heads of Coxcox
and his wife. The latter of these is known by the two tresses in the
form of horns, which, as we have observed, denote the female sex. The
men born after the deluge were dumb; a dove from the top of a tree
distributes among them tongues, represented under the form of small
commas. We must not confound this dove with the bird which brings
Coxcox tidings that the waters were dried up. The people of Machoacan
preserved a tradition, according to which, Coxcox, whom they call
Tezpi, embarked in a spacious _acalli_ with his wife, his children,
several animals, and grain, the preservation of which was of importance
to mankind. When the Great Spirit, Tetcatlipoca, ordered the waters to
withdraw, Tezpi sent out from his bark a vulture, the Zohilote (vultur
aura). This bird, which feeds on dead flesh, did not return on account
of the great number of carcasses with which the earth, recently
dried up, was strewed. Tezpi sent out other birds, one of which, the
hummingbird, alone returned, holding in his beak a branch covered
with leaves. Tezpi, seeing that fresh verdure began to clothe the
soil, quitted his bark near the fountain of Colhuacan.... The tongues
which the dove distributed to the nations of America, being infinitely
varied, these nations disperse; and fifteen heads of families only, who
spoke the same tongue, and from whom the Toltecks, the Aztecks, and the
Acolhuans descended, unite, and arrive at Aztlan.” Ib. II. p. 63.
“The group, No. 2,[9] represents the celebrated _Serpent Woman_,
Cihuacohuatl, called also Quiliztli or Tonacacihua, _woman of our
flesh_; she is the companion of Tonacateuctli. The Mexicans considered
her as the mother of the human race; and after the god of the
_Celestial Paradise_, Ometeuctli, she held the first rank among the
divinities of Anahuac. We see her always represented with a great
serpent. Other paintings exhibit to us a feather-headed snake, cut in
pieces by the great spirit Tercatlipoca, or by the sun personified, the
god Tonatiuh....
“Behind the serpent, who appears to be speaking to the goddess
Cihuacohuatl, are two naked figures; they are of a different color, and
seem to be in the attitude of contending with each other. We might be
led to suppose that the two vases, which we see at the bottom of the
picture, one of which is overturned, is the cause of this contention.
The Serpent woman was considered in Mexico as the mother of two twin
children; these naked figures are perhaps the children of Cihuacohuatl;
they remind us of the Cain and Abel of the Hebrew tradition.” Ib. I. p.
195.
Pyramidal structures are also found scattered over the islands of the
Pacific. “The natural temples (in the Polynesian islands) consisted
of a number of distinct Maraes, altars, and sacred dormitories,
appropriated to the chief pagan divinities, and included in one large
stone enclosure of considerable extent. Several of the distinct temples
contained smaller inner-courts, within which the gods were kept. The
form of the interior or area of the temples was frequently that of
a square or a parallelogram, the sides of which extended forty or
fifty feet. Two sides of this were enclosed by a high stone wall; the
front was protected by a low fence; and opposite, _a solid Pyramidal
structure_ was raised, in front of which the images were kept, and the
altars fixed. These piles were often immense. That which formed one
side of the square of the large temple in Atehura, according to Mr.
Wilson, by whom it was visited when in a state of preservation, was 270
feet long, 94 feet wide at the base, and 50 feet high; being at the
summit 180 feet long and 6 wide. A flight of steps led to its summit;
the bottom step was six feet high. The outer stories of the Pyramid,
composed of coral and basalt, were laid with great care, and hewn or
squared with immense labor, especially the _trava_, or corner stones.”
Ellis’s Polynesian Researches, vol. I. p. 339, 340.
“The most remarkable objects in Easter Island, are its monuments
of stone-work and sculpture, which, though rude and imperfect, are
superior to any found among the more numerous and civilized tribes of
the South Sea islands. These monuments consist of a number of terraces
or platforms, built with stairs, cut and fixed with great exactness and
skill, forming, though destitute of cement, a strong durable pile. On
these terraces are fixed colossal statues or busts.”[10] Ib. vol. III.
p. 325.
Last among the Pyramids that I will notice here, though the first
in date, is the celebrated tower of Babel, or, as it was afterwards
called, the temple of Belus. This temple was square, measuring at its
base 660 feet on each side; and consisted of eight successive layers
or towers, formed of huge unburnt bricks, each layer 75 feet high,
and each smaller than the next below. It was thus altogether 600 in
height, and had on the summit a chapel for the golden statue of their
god. According to Diodorus Siculus, the gold of this statue, and the
decorations of the temple, were equal in value to ten millions of
dollars; while the worth of the utensils employed, and the treasure
deposited here, amounted to an equal sum.
We have thus, throughout Hindoostan, on the banks of the Euphrates,
through Egypt, in the remote region of Mexico, and among the Pacific
islands, structures in shape exactly alike, and often of stupendous
magnitude. For an effect so general we must find a cause as extensive,
and it must be one operating with powerful effect. It appears to me
that we are supplied with this in the hints given by the picture
writing of Mexico.
After the confusion of languages at the tower of Babel, the stricken
and confounded families of the plain of Shinar, as they were gradually
scattered over different, and often far distant regions, carried with
them, each, not only a deep impression of the event, but also a feeling
of awe connected with the edifice where had been such a wonderful
display of supernatural power. And they afterwards adopted this
structure, as the model for temples for the worship of the mysterious
divinities that their superstitious fears gradually wrought out for
them, the god of fire, the god of the sun, or the god of the palpable
but invisible air.
We have here a case sufficiently extensive in its operation, and also
sufficiently powerful. When looking at the huge structures in Egypt, I
can hardly imagine any other cause than that of religion to be able to
produce such a stupendous effect.
Only one of the Pyramids of Ghizeh is truncated, or adapted for a
chapel on its summit; that of Cephrenes might have had its altar in the
huge stone enclosure already noticed as directly adjoining it on the
east; but it is probable that in this land of mystery, the solemnities,
whatever they were, were performed chiefly in the hidden chambers of
the Pyramids, to which the priests had access by subterranean passages.
The idea that they were places for worship, is perhaps strengthened by
the presence of the colossal Sphinx, which lies about two hundred yards
east from them, and on the side of the eminence on which they stand.
Avenues of sphinxes leading to their temples were common in the ancient
Egyptian cities; and in Memphis, if my memory is correct, was one of
great extent, formed by colossal sphinxes, which have all disappeared.
May we not suppose that this, which now stands alone, was, or was
intended to be,[11] one of a great number, forming a most imposing
avenue, leading upward from the plain to these stupendous temples? Its
face is towards the east, and it adjoins what was evidently the ancient
way of ascent to the Pyramids.
The dimensions of this Sphinx, as given by Pococke, are, height of the
head and neck, twenty-seven feet; breast, thirty-three feet wide; whole
length of the figure, one hundred and thirty feet. Pliny states its
height to be equal to sixty-three English feet. It is now covered with
sand, except the head and shoulders. Some years since the whole figure
was laid bare by the persevering efforts of Mr. Caviglia; but the light
sands of the desert speedily resumed their place, and have left no
traces of his labors.
In conclusion, I would throw out the query, (and it is only a
query,) whether the mounds in our western country, which are often
of prodigious size, had not the same origin and a similar purpose,
the circular form being only a slight change in consequence of the
material here employed. The Pyramid of Quanhuahuac, in Mexico, was
built on a hill wrought into shape of a cone; and at Ruapua, in Hawaii,
(or Owhyhee,) Mr. Ellis visited a _heiau_, or open temple, in which
“the place where the altar had been erected could be distinctly traced;
it was a _mound of earth_, paved with smooth stones, and surrounded by
a firm curb of lava.” Polyne. Researches, v. iv., 116.
But up! up! and let us get out once more into the pure and open air.
The fiery sun is throwing his rays slantingly, and the Pyramids are
casting long shadows across the plain; and, though over yon sandy
mountains and the panting deserts beyond, the sky is still in a glow,
the fury of the heat is past. Turn here to the eastward. In this
clear and pure atmosphere, how distinct are distant objects. From
our elevated ground we trace the courses of the numerous canals,
intersecting the wide plain beneath; yonder is Cairo, a white house
here and there giving a mottled appearance to the reddish mass of
edifices; there goes the silvery river, in gentle and graceful curves;
and here, on our left, stretches off towards it a low ridge or
causeway, supposed by some to have been made for transporting stone for
the Pyramids from the river, but which was more probably formed when
this region was robbed to supply Cairo with building materials.[12]
How calm now and quiet is all this scene; but over this plain only a
few years ago swept the wild and destructive hurricane of war. There,
a few miles from where we stand, advanced the legions of France, led
by him who was himself a host; and there wheeled the squadrons of the
fierce Mamelukes; and here both rushed on to the bloody encounter. What
spot on earth is there that man has not marked with deeds of violence,
or from which the voice of his brother’s blood, shed by him, hath not
cried to heaven from the ground?
Looking southward from our present position, the Pyramids of Sakhara
were striking objects in the plain of Memphis, distant seven or
eight miles. They are on the level plain, and are, I think, six in
number, but are small compared with those of Ghizeh. One of them was
remarkable, even at this distance, for the ruggedness of its outline;
the successive layers of stones in this receding very much, and making
it resemble considerably the Pyramids of Mexico.
Towards evening the party, once more resuming their various means of
conveyance, proceeded on by the Pyramids of Sakhara; and on the plains
of Memphis found, through the foresight of Mr. Gliddon, a comfortable
supper and commodious tents prepared for them. This plain is covered
with ruins, often of great size, but too unsatisfactory at the present
time to detain a traveller long; and the company embarked at an early
hour on the following day on board Mr. Gliddon’s boat.
On the right bank of the Nile, about seven miles from Cairo, is the
military and naval school of Toura, an admirably conducted institution,
under the superintendence of a Spanish gentleman, General Seguira.
He was a high officer in the constitutional government of Spain, and
having been exiled in consequence, has been protected by Mohammed
Ali, who had sense enough to see and appreciate his merit. He has his
family with him at Cairo, holds the rank of Bey, and receives the
liberal salary of $11,000 per annum. The college edifice consists
of a quadrangle, inclosing a court planted with shade trees for the
recreation of the pupils. Each lad has for himself an iron bedstead,
mattress, &c., a bureau, secretary, and a chair. The sleeping rooms
are large enough to accommodate thirty-seven of them in each, together
with a teacher; in the school-room they have also every comfort, and a
hospital is also provided for the sick.
The party landing here, were received with great politeness by Gen.
Seguira, who, after conducting them through the buildings, and calling
on the lads to exhibit their proficiency in geometry, trigonometry,
and drawing, ordered those destined to be artillerists to bring their
cannon on the ground for practice. The young cadets (about twelve or
fourteen years of age) wheeled their guns to the spot, and went through
a variety of evolutions with great rapidity, firing at the targets with
admirable success. Their improvement in the school for drawing is also
wonderful, if we consider the short time which they have been able to
allot to this branch. The young naval heroes did not appear to be so
well trained; there are two armed brigs anchored in the river opposite
the school, on board of which they are examined in loosing and furling
sails, lowering yards, splicing and knotting, unmooring and mooring,
and in practising the guns; but the evolutions which they attempted on
this occasion, were pronounced by our tars to be sufficiently awkward.
We had, however, frequent opportunity of seeing the Pasha’s ships
manoeuvring at sea, and saw no occasion for finding fault. The school
at Toura contains about four hundred lads, and considering the short
time which it has been in operation, reflects great credit, both on the
Pasha, and its polite superintendent Gen. Seguira.
FOOTNOTES:
[3] Of this picture writing, there are several originals preserved; one
at Vienna, three or four in the great library at Mexico, two in the
Vatican at Rome, and one in the royal library at Paris. I was allowed
to see that at Vienna. It is on deer-skin, and is about fifty feet
in length by nine inches in width, folding like a Chinese book; the
writing occupies both sides. The translation of it, which I have given
here, is by Baron Humboldt.
[4] At Benares is a Pyramid like those of Egypt, formed of earth,
and covered with bricks. The Brahmins of India, when they heard the
Egyptian Pyramids described by Mr. Wilford, declared at once that
they were religious structures; and inquired whether they had not a
subterraneous communication with the Nile. He described the well in
that of Cheops to them, when they affirmed that it was for supplying
the priests with water in their ceremonies, and that the sarcophagus
in the great chamber was on such occasions filled with water and
lotus-flowers. At Medun in Egypt is a Pyramid, with broad off-setts
like those of Mexico; and similar ones are stated to exist on the banks
of the Indus and Ganges.
[5] A region embracing Cholula. Au.
[6] The reader will notice the coincidence with the number of Noah’s
family. Au.
[7] Humboldt’s researches, English translation, v. 1. 95-6.
[8] A peak of the Cordilleras of Mexico.
[9] This picture represents a woman standing on the left; in front
of her a serpent is erect, and looking towards her, with projecting
tongue; beneath them, towards the right, are two figures struggling;
and towards the left, two small objects, that may be vessels, though it
is difficult exactly to determine their character.
[10] Query, were not the “High Places,” mentioned in Scripture, also
Pyramidal edifices. They were not natural hills, for the Hebrew term
for the latter being גבעה while for the high places the word במה is
universally employed. See 2 Kings xvi. 4., where the distinction is
clearly made. They were in use among the Philistines, when the country
was taken by the Hebrews. Numbers xxxiii. 51, 2. 2 Kings xvii. 9-11,
and were,
1. Artificial structures. 1 Kings xiv. 23. 2 Kings xxi. 3. Ib. xi. 7.
2. Capable of being removed, but not so easily as the groves, altars,
&c.--1 Kings xv. 14. 2 Kings xxiii. 13.
3. Were erected in their cities. 2 Chron. xxviii. 25. 2 Kings xvii.
29.
4. And in the country. 2 Chron. xxi. 11. 1 Kings xiv. 23.
5. Had small chapels on the summit. 2 Kings xvii. 29. 1 Kings xiii.
32.
6. And altars for offering sacrifice. 1 Kings iii. 4. Numbers xxii.
36, to end.
7. Also human victims probably. Jer. xix. 5.
8. Seem to have been connected with the worship of the sun. 2 Kings
xxi. 3.
9. And with purification by fire. Jer. xxxii. 5.
10. Perhaps also used as places of burial. 2 Kings xxiii. 16. In
Isaiah liii. 9. במה is used to signify a grave.
11. Sometimes used as fortifications. Judges v. 18 and 19.
12. They appear sometimes to have been of earth or stone. 1 Kings xv.
14. 2 Kings xxiii. 8.
13. Sometimes of wood. 2 Kings xxii. 15. xxiii. 8.
[11] For it is doubtful whether the Pyramids were ever completed.
[12] The Caliph Melec-Alaziz-Othman-ben-Yusouf (quite worthy of his
name) sent a large number of workmen here with orders to destroy the
Pyramids. They spent eight months, with pickaxes, ropes, &c., and put
him to an enormous expense; but after all were able only to disfigure
one front of one, that of Mycerinus, the smallest one. Even Saladin
bade his workmen consider Memphis and the Pyramids as quarries, from
which to procure materials for building the walls and the citadel of
Cairo. Recent accounts from Egypt state that Mohammed Ali is taking
from the Pyramid of Mycerinus materials for his great work at the
Barage.