PALENQUE. 31 



Temple of the Sun. (© on Plate I. and Plates LXXXIII. to LXXXIX.) 



This building is similar in plan to that of the two Temples last described ; but it is 

 somewhat smaller and in a much better state of preservation. It stands on a foundation- 

 mound and faces the east. The slopes of the mound are covered with debris, and no 

 trace of retaining-walls or of a stairway can be seen. 



On the two outer piers of the facade of the Temple there are traces of a hieroglyphic 

 inscription with each group of glyphs arranged in a cartouche, and on the two inner 

 piers are fragments of human figures. 



The ornament of the frieze on the front of the building is very much damaged ; 

 but it is possible to make out part of the body and the head of a great serpent, with 

 a grotesque head issuing from its jaws, and the remains of two human figures in a 

 kneeling position. On the other three sides of the building the ornament of the frieze 

 is almost entirely obliterated. 



The lattice-wall of the superstructure is preserved entire ; but very nearly all the 

 plaster ornament with which it was formerly covered has fallen. 



In the interior of the building the two passages pierced through the roof above the 

 main wall are left open, and not blocked up on one side, as is the case in the Temple 

 of the Cross. The inner gallery is divided as usual into three chambers ; the southern 

 transverse wall has a doorway through it covered by a stone lintel. In the northern 

 chamber there are several stones projecting from the sides of the transverse wall, and 

 on the back wall of this chamber there are scars which appear to indicate that a stone 

 table was at one time fixed against it. 



The doorway of the Sanctuary was flanked by two carved stone slabs (see note 

 on pp. 28 and 29). Waldeck's drawings of these sculptures are reproduced on 

 Plate LXXXVI. 



As much as can still be made out of the decoration of the cornices and frieze on 

 the sides of the Sanctuary is given in the sketches on Plate LXXXV. The frieze on 

 the front of the Sanctuary has been destroyed ; . but from the portion of it figured both 

 by Waldeck and Stephens there can be no doubt that the outstretched wings of the 

 serpent-bird formed part of the design, and that the moulding of grotesque faces 

 which is shown on the lower cornice in the side views was also continued along the 



front*. 



A photograph of the sculptured panel let into the back wall of the Sanctuary is 

 given on Plate LXXXVIL, and drawings on Plates LXXXVIII. and LXXXIX. 



* Catherwood's drawing (Stephens's ' Incidents of Travel,' vol. ii., facing p. 354) is incorrect in figuring a 

 line of " symbols " on the lower cornice of the Sanctuary. 



biol. centr.-amer., Archaeol , Vol. IV., January 1899. 



