THE LESSER CIVILIZATIONS 158 
Archeology tells a more convincing tale as regards 
the Toltecs than does history herself. In the stratified 
remains at Atzcapotzalco the objects made by the 
Toltecs overlie those of the first potters of the Archaic 
Period and are in striking contrast to them. The prin- 
cipal motives seen in Toltecan decorative art owe an 
obvious debt to the earlier and more brilliant work of 
the Mayas. 
The pyramids of the Toltecs exceed in size those of 
the Mayas, but are of inferior construction, adobe bricks 
with concrete facings taking the place of rubble and 
cut stone. The temples that crowned these pyramids 
were also of less solid character and no single example 
is now intact. Vaulted ceilings do not appear to have 
been used, but instead flat, timbered ceilings or high 
pitched roofs of thatch. Sometimes two or more 
columns were placed within the room to support the roof 
beams. The groundplans of buildings other than 
temples, show small rooms arranged in an irregular 
fashion around courts. 
A ceremonial game that resembled basket ball was 
an important feature of Toltecan religion. Two rings 
were set vertically in the walls that flanked a level 
space and the object of the game was to make the rub- 
ber ball pass through one of the rings. ‘This sacred 
game spread far and wide. It was introduced into 
northern Yucatan and the most elaborate ball court of 
all was built at Chichen Itza. Another special feature 
of Toltecan religion was the worship of the sun disk 
which was passed on to the later civilizations of Mexico, 
and which likewise was carried to Yucatan. Prayers 
are commonly represented in Toltecan sculptures by the 
device of the “‘speech scroll”? which issues from the 
mouth of the speaker and pictures forth what his 
desires are. 
