CHICHEN ITZA. 33 



snake, which rises behind him, crosses the string-course so that its head occupies part 

 of line C. The figure in the middle of the line D is also a serpent-priest (or warrior, 

 for he carries atlatl and spears in his hands). In the top line E the central figure 

 of chief or deity, to whom the others are paying reverence, is seated on a jaguar throne 

 and surrounded by an aureola or halo of rays similar to those surrounding the figures 

 on the lintel (Plate XXXV.), where the same chief or deity is represented. Almost 

 all the other figures, except two on each side of the serpent-priest on line B, carry 

 atlatl and spears. 



It might be suggested that the figure within the halo is the great serpent-god 

 whose representatives on earth, the warrior and the priest, are distinguished by the 

 presence of the snakes which accompany them, and that the grotesque mask whence 

 issues the water-plant with its fish and birds is in some way symbolical of fecundity. 



The ornament £f^==~ ^ * ""===^53 so frequently worn on the neck or in the head- 

 dress appears to me to be derived from the figure of a bird with outstretched wings and 

 tail. The quilted or feathered sleeve or cloak sometimes worn on the left arm must 

 have been intended for the protection of the body of the warrior when he was throwing 

 his spears, and the quilted or feathered bracelet on the right wrist probably assisted the 

 adjustment of the atlatl when the spear was being poised. Whether the discs, which 

 in so many instances appear to be attached to the waist-band, are war-shields it is 

 somewhat difficult to determine ; it seems just possible, bearing in mind the nearness 

 of this chamber to the Great Ball Court, that they are the pieces of hide stretched over 

 the loins which are mentioned in Herrera's description of the game. The little bags 

 held in the hands of the warriors figured on Plate XXXVIII. are suggestive of slings. 

 It is worth noting that no bows and arrows are to be seen on any of the sculptures. 



To the east of the Tennis Court is a long low terrace, No. 12. The stone facing all 

 round this terrace is decorated with scrolls cawed in medium relief. This decoration 

 is, however, not continued round the projection of the terrace to the east, where the 

 masonry is somewhat higher and is approached by a few steps. 



Close to this terrace is the small mound No. 13, which is now about 12 feet high, 

 and is approached on all sides by stairways with serpent-head balustrades. The sides 

 of the mound were perpendicular, and were decorated with figures of jaguars, vultures, 

 &c. (Plate LIT, a and b). Near by is lying a figure (Plate LIL, c) which appears to 

 represent a dead juguar. It is not possible to give an accurate description of this 

 mound, as it had been the site of one of Dr. Le Plongeon's excavations, and I had not 

 time to remove the mass of stones and earth which had been dug out from the centre 

 and lay heaped up against the sides. But it was, I believe, in this mound that Dr. Le 

 Plongeon found the stone figure which he names Chac-Mol, which is now in the 

 Museum at Mexico. Similar figures are still to be seen in front of the serpent columns 



biol. cekte.-amer., Archreol., Vol. I1L, April 1900. f 



