2G8 THE GREAT AZTEC IDOL. 



universal, bat we suspect it interested him more foi 

 what it had been, than what it was — more for what was 

 under it, than what was above and around it. Below it, 

 as we have already remarked, were the remains of the 

 great temple of Mexitli, fragments of which were fre 

 quently brought to light. A few years before his arrival, 

 (in August 1790) some workmen who were emplo3^ed 

 there in making excavations, in order to build a subter- 

 raneous aqueduct, discovered a great Aztec Idol of 

 basaltic porphyry. It was about twenty feet high, and 

 six or seven feet broad, and was sculptured on every 

 side. At jQrst it appeared an almost shapeless mass, but 

 on being examined closely, upon the upper part was 

 found the united heads of two monsters. The eyes were 

 large, and in each mouth were four hideous teeth. The 

 arms and feet were hidden under a drapery surrounded by 

 enormous serpents; the ancient Mexicans called this 

 drapery the Garment of Serpents. All these accessories, 

 especially the fringes, which were in the form of feathers, 

 were sculptured with the greatest care. This double idol 

 probably represented Huitzilpochtle, the Aztec God of 

 War, and his wife, Teoyamiqui, who conducted the souls 

 of the warriors who died in the defence of the gods, to 

 the House of the Sun, where she transformed them into 

 humminof-birds. Her bosom was surrounded with deaths'- 

 heads and mutilated hands, symbols of the sacrifices 

 which were celebrated in honour of this horrible pair. The 

 hands alternated with the figures of vases, in which in- 

 cense was burnt. As the idol was sculptured on every 

 side it was doubtless supported in the air on two columns, 

 between which the priests dragged their victims to the 

 altar of the temple beyond. Upon the under side of the 



