THE HOME OF A FORGOTTEN RACE 



593 



cipal motive on each panel is a human 

 figure elaborately costumed and bril- 

 liantly painted. 



MAYAN MURAL, PAINTINGS 



The wall surface of both chambers 

 bear traces of having been once covered 

 with mural paintings. Those on the 

 walls of the outer chamber have become 

 entirely obliterated by the erosive action 

 of the elements. Those on the walls of 

 the inner chamber are in part obliterated 

 by the excreta of bats, and still more by 

 the vandal hand of man. 



Enough yet remains to make this little 

 chamber the repository of the best-pre- 

 served examples of the mural paintings 

 of this ancient Maya race at present 

 known. 



The best-preserved portion represents 

 a battle scene. The attacking party, with 

 atlatls, spears, and shields, are seemingly 

 assaulting a city or some large center. 

 Above the battlefield can be seen tier 

 upon tier of houses, and amid them are 

 women in agonized postures, looking 

 down upon the fighting warriors. 



To one side is the symbolical figure of 

 Kuk-ul-can, with lightning-like yellow 

 flames issuing from his mouth, the sign 

 of defiance and also of war. Many other 

 scenes and portions of figures are de- 

 picted, but the battle scene is the clearest 

 of them all at present. The figures are 

 done in a clear, easy style, vigorous and 

 true. 



Belonging to this same temple, but on 

 a lower level and built against the east- 

 ern wall, is a chamber 22 feet long by 10 

 feet wide and 15 feet high. 



The front of this chamber also is de- 

 stroyed, and in practically the same way 

 as that of the upper chamber. A portion 

 of the end walls and a large part of the 

 rear still remain upright ( see page 596), 

 and the superb wall sculptures they hold 

 upon their surface are fortunately still 

 left for study and comparison. 



Clear-cut features, well-worked de- 

 tails, artistically executed and well car- 

 ried out, show the skill and spirit of 

 these ancient artists. The carvings clearly 

 represent the performance of some re- 

 ligious rite or ceremonial dance. En- 

 twined about the series of masked and 



conventional figures are the serpent sym- 

 bol, that of the sun and apparently that 

 of rain and water. 



Description is nearly useless in such 

 cases as this ; only photographs or draw- 

 ings can adequately represent the work. 



The figures were originally painted in 

 the conventional colors, with the ever- 

 present deep red background. 



Portions of the two richly carved 

 square pillars that once helped to sus- 

 tain the fallen front, and between them 

 a rigid conventionalized "tiger," seem- 

 ingly a kind of ceremonial seat, complete 

 all that is now visible of this chamber. 



Half ruined as it is, the Temple of the 

 Tigers is a treasure and a boon to stu- 

 dents of the Maya civilization. 



A MAYAN PRISON 



South of the Temple of the Tigers 

 lies the beautiful little structure known 

 to the natives as the Chichen Chob, the 

 Prison (see page 598), probably the most 

 perfect existing unit of ancient Maya 

 architecture. The pyramid supporting 

 and the stairway leading up to it are al- 

 most intact, the angles and faces of the 

 edifice itself almost perfect. 



Within the chambers some of the 

 wooden cross-beams are still in place, the 

 mural paintings on the hard - finished 

 walls are evident, although nearly ef- 

 faced ; but the long band of well-carved 

 hieroglyphics that extend entirely across 

 the wall opposite the doors is as perfect 

 and delicately clear as if carved but yes- 

 terday. 



To the southeast lies the Round Tower 

 (see page 600), a strange structure, 

 unique in plan and outline. This edifice 

 rises like a turret, 40 feet and of equal 

 diameter, from near the center of a ter- 

 race, 20 feet high, 220 feet long by 150 

 feet wide. 



humbopdt's surprise 



Its purpose is at present unknown ; but 

 from its construction, annular chambers, 

 winding stairway, and the position of its 

 outlooks and outlets I believe it to have 

 been an observatory, an edifice devoted 

 to the study of the celestial bodies. It is 

 known that the ancient American calen- 

 dar system was so accurately developed 



