seler] 



TEMPLE PYRAMID OF TEPOXTIAN 



345 



itself, which the third terrace forms. This temple is formed of walls 

 1.9 meters thick, constructed of blocks of red and black tezontle 

 (porous volcanic i-ock) with copious mortar of lime and sand, 

 and reaching to a height of 2.5 meters. The roof has fallen in. 

 From the ruins Mr Eodriguez was still able to determine that it 

 had been a flat arch, with a maximum rise of 0.5 meter, a span 

 of 5 meters, and a thiclcness of 0.7 meter, formed of pieces of tezontle 

 and a great quantity of mortar, the use of which in thick laj^ers made 

 the construction possible. On the site of the front wall are to be 

 seen the remains of two rectangidar masonry columns, which left 

 a wide central doorway with a narrow one on each side. The inte- 



Fiu. 84. Temple pyramid of Tepoxtlan, valley of Cuernavaca. 



rior space is divided by a wall, 0.0 meter thick, pierced by a door- 

 way, into two rooms, of which the front one runs back 3.73 and the 

 inner one 5.2 meters, with a width of G meters. In the middle of the 

 front room Rodriguez found a rectangular depression" {h in the 

 plan, plate xl), and in it remains of charcoal and a couple of well- 

 preserved pieces of copal. This was probably, therefore, the hearth 

 where the sacred fire burned and whence, perhaps, glowing coals 

 were obtained with which to burn incense to the god. 



In the axis of the inner chamber against the rear wall stood the 

 idol. The doorwav connecting the two rooms has a width of 1.9 



" " Una oquedad ". 

 form ". 



Saville erroneously writes in this place "a raised rectangular plat 



