Page:Daany Beédxe.djvu/23

years” ago, had taught the people to live in extremely modest and moderate houses, built of adobe, wood and straw, regardless of the person social condition.

Social differences were established through people internal values; and above all, by the service throughout a lifetime of work undertaken for the welfare of the community. For this reason, there was a millenarian value, for the prestige and dignity of each citizen, where material wealth was not considered at all.

It was customary that the gods deserved all material splendors; just as the community, represented by the Government. Those deserving the divinity sacrifice; human beings, the only means they had of expressing their full potential, was the development of a virtuous life, through austerity and frugality; religiosity and service to their community. Those were the rules that the old grandparents taught the first men who started lineages, back at the history origin; and it is still the custom, for the children of their children, until the end of time.

Hence, public buildings and temples were manifested through art as an expression of the most exalted inspiration that flowed from spiritual strength. In these beautiful buildings, art was depicted as union means, a bridge between the human and the divine, between spirit and matter, between heaven and Earth.

This is why people spared no effort and sacrifice, in the construction of these buildings. These were carved in stone, covered with stucco and decorated with beautiful paintings, alluding to its use.

The building of the House of the youth had a large square, in the center had a shrine dedicated to multiple avocations of the Supreme divinity. Surrounding the plaza were four buildings. In one were sleeping quarters. It was rectangular as all others, wide and high ceilings. The floor was stone and in the