Page:Travels in Mexico and life among the Mexicans.djvu/491

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TOLTEC RUINS AND PYRAMIDS.

483

their sides were once probably encased, has been entirely removed in the lapse of time.

The summit platform of each pyramid once supported respectively images of the sun and of the moon, covered with gold, and glowing so brightly as to guide the worshippers on their way to the valley to visit this most holy place of ancient times. No vestige of image or statue remains, save a great carved block, called a "sacrificial stone," now lying two hundred yards from the Pyramid of the Moon, said to have been overthrown by the Spanish bishop of hated memory, Zumárraga, and excavated by order of Maximilian.

In the western face of the Pyramid of the Moon we saw an opening, which is supposed by some to lead to hitherto unexplored treasure vaults deep down in the body of this vast

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    east and west line of base, 156 metres; north and south, 130 metres; height, 46 metres; orientation, north face of the Moon, from east to west, 88° 30' N. W.; orientation, east face of the Sun, from south to north, 1° 30' N. E.