38 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



The famous edifices of Teotihuacan, about three miles 

 fouth from that place, and more than twenty from Mex- 

 ico, towards Greco, ftill fubfift: thofe immenfe buildings 

 which ferved as a model for the temples of that country, 

 were two temples confecrated the one to the fun and 

 the other to the moon, reprefented by two idols of mon- 

 ftrous bulk, made of Hone and covered with gold. That 

 of the fun had a great concavity in the breaft, and an 

 image of that planet of the pureft gold fixed in it. The 

 conquerors poffefied themfelves of the gold, the idols 

 were broken by order of the firfl: bifhop of Mexico, and 

 the fragments remained in that place till the end of the 

 laft century, and may, perhaps, be there {Mil. The bafe, 

 or inferior body of the temple of the fun, is eighty-eight 

 perches long, and eighty-fix broad, and the height of 

 the whole building is in proportion (h). That of the 

 moon is eighty-fix perches long in the bafe, and fixty- 

 three broad. Each of thefe temples is divided into four 

 bodies, and as many flair-cafes, which are arranged in 

 the fame manner with thofe of the great temple of Mex- 

 ico ; but cannot now be traced, partly from their ruin- 

 ous condition, and partly from the great quantity of 

 earth with which they are every where covered. Round 

 thefe edifices are fcattered feveral little hills, which are 

 fuppofed to have been as many leffer temples, dedicated 

 to the other planets and ftars ; and from this place being 

 fo full of religious buildings, antiquity gave it the name 

 of Teotihuacan. 



The 



(b) Gemelli meafured the length and breadth of thofe temples, but had no 

 mftrument to meafure their height. Cav. Boturini meafured their height, but 

 when he wrote his work he had not the meafure by him, yet he thinks he 

 found the temple of the fun to have been two hundred Caftilian cubits high, 

 that is, eighty-fix perches. 



