CHAPTER III. 



THE TEMPLE OF THE CROSS. 



Though anything like a description of Palenque would be incompatible with 

 the character of this monograph, and, moreover, appear totally superfluous in 

 ■view of the existing ample literature on the subject, I consider it as a part of 

 my task to extract from the authorities enumerated in the preceding chapter such 

 statements as relate to the Temple of the Cross and to the celebi'ated sculpture 

 itself. I also give, as Fig. 1, a plan of Palenque, in order to illustrate the 

 situation of the diflPerent buildings, all of which, as will be seen, face the cardinal 

 points. The Temple of the Cross, indicated by No. 4 on the plan, is situated 

 about one hundred and fifty yards east of the large building No. 1, commonly 

 called the Palace, on the opposite bank of the small river Otolum,* which trav- 

 erses the site of the ruins. It stands upon a dilapidated pyi-amidal stone 

 structure measuring about one hundred and thirty-four feet on the slope, and 

 forms a rectangle, fifty feet long and thirty-one feet wide.-f Figures 2, 3 and 

 4 illustrate the character of the building. 



"»• 



I now insert Del Rio's somewhat vague account of the temple : — 

 " Eastward of this structurej are three small eminences forming a triangle, 

 upon each of which is a square building, eighteen yards long by eleven broad, 

 of the same architecture as the former, but having, along their roofings, several 

 superstructures, about three yards high, resembling turrets, covered with 

 different ornaments and devices in stucco. In the interior of the first of these 

 three mansions, at the end of a gallery almost entirely dilapidated, is a saloon 

 having a small chamber at each extremity, while in the centre of the saloon 

 stands an oratory, rather more than three yards square, presenting on each side 

 of the entrance a perpendicular stone, whereon is pourtrayed the image of a man 



* So called by Del Eio, but " Otula " by Stephens. According to Brasseur, Otolum means " Place of crumb- 

 ling stones," and the name is applied to the ruins as well as to the stream. The people of the neighborhood call 

 the ruins " Casas de Piedra " (stone houses). 



■j- Stephens's measurements. 



J He alludes to one of the temples south of the Palace-. 



16 



