THE TEMPLE OF THE CROSS. ■ 25 



ascribe to these personages a sacerdotal character. The hieroglyphics doubtless 

 explain all. Near them are other hieroglyphics, which reminded us of the 

 Egyptian mode for recording the name, history, office, or character of the persons 

 represented. This Tablet of the Cross has given rise to more learned speculations 

 than perhaps any others found at Palenque. Dupaix and his commentators, 

 assuming for the building a very remote antiquity, or, at least, a period long 

 antecedent to the Christian era, account for the appearance of the cross by the 

 argument that it was known and had a symbolical meaning among ancient nations 



long before it was established as the emblem of the Christian faith 



There is reason to believe that this particular building was intended as a temple, 

 and that the enclosed inner chamber was an adoratorio, or oratory, or altar. 

 What the rites and ceremonies of worship may have been, no one can undertake 

 to say."* 



M. Morelet, as before stated, abstains fi'om a description of the Palenquean 

 ruins, directing the reader's attention to former explorations. He devotes, how- 

 ever, a passing remark to the tablet: " The bas-relief, known as the Stone of the 

 Cross, deserves mention as one of the most meritorious. Torn by profane hands 

 from the sanctuary which sheltered it, and left at the foot of a hill where 

 it is gradually becoming destroyed — the enigma of this historical fragment has 

 long occupied the attention of savants. They have fancied they could distinguish 

 among the objects it represents the symbols of the worship of Memphis, and 

 then again those of the Christian religion. But I think it will be well to await 

 the coming of a second Champollion to furnish us with the key to American 

 hieroglyphics ; and, until then, to see in this stone only an Indian allegory, of 

 which the leading rej^resentations were suggested by the products of the 

 country."-)- 



There can be no doubt that Dupaix still saw, in 1808, the three tablets in 

 their proper place, fixed against the rear wall of the Sanctuary of the Cross. The 

 evidence lies in the fact that he represents, though in a manner far from accm*ate, 

 the whole bas-relief, including portions sculptured on the slab which is now 

 preserved in the United States National Museum. A comparison of the illustra- 

 tions, which I shall introduce hereafter, will remove every doubt. In 1832, 

 however, M. Waldeck found the middle slab torn fi-om its place, and he relates 

 the circumstance in these words : " This is the poi-tion of the beautiful work 

 which I have saved ft-om a voyage to the United States, whither it was to be 

 transferred. Not without much labor this heavy stone had l)een transported to 

 the river which flows through the ruins, and there I confiscated it by order of 

 the governor of Chiapas ; there I also drew it. Ten years later, Stephens and 



* Stephens : Central America, etc., vol. ii, p. 346. 

 ■}■ Morelet : Travels etc., p. 98. 



4 



