The
teocalli, or temples, are farther south, down in the State of Chiapas,
and in Yucatan."
"But we might find some underground temple up here," insisted Jimmie.
"The natives worshiped in this region, didn't they?"
"They built their temples on top of pyramids," continued Fenton, "and
not underground. There is one at Palenque said to be built on the
lines of Solomon's temple. It has sanctuaries, sepulchers, cloisters,
courts, subterraneous galleries, and dismal cells where the priests
lived. No one knows how old the ruins are. No one knows how many
distinct civilizations have held sway there, one, literally, on top
of the other."
"It is too hot up here to talk ancient history," said Frank, "and
I'm hungry, too, but I'd like to know where you find any pyramids
in Mexico."
"The pyramid-temple of Cholulu," went on the delighted drummer, "is the
largest and best known. It makes the pyramids of Egypt look like thirty
cents in comparison, for it is nearly fifteen hundred feet on each side
and almost two hundred feet high. Gizeh, the big Egyptian pyramid, is
only 763 feet along the sides, but it has the Mexican one beaten in height,
it being over five hundred feet high. Perhaps you fellows will wake up,
directly, and find out what a wonderful country you are in."
"Who built this pyramid-temple?" asked Jimmie.
"No one knows," was the reply. "Whoever did it had correct ideas of
architecture and knew lots about decoration. The ruined city of Palenque
had temples, palaces, baths, and aqueducts.
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