Identifier: ancientcitiesofn00char (find matches)
Title: The ancient cities of the New World : being travels and explorations in Mexico and Central America from 1857-1882
Year: 1887 (1880s)
Authors: Charnay, Désiré, 1828-1915
Subjects: Indians of Mexico Indians of Central America
Publisher: London : Chapman and Hall
Contributing Library: Getty Research Institute
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

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ntly proved by the wealthof ornamentation displayed on this portion of the pyramid, and Elevation. L_ ^i..^-yli^^p^^t^;iyaif^^f^^^^^ Section. Plan. ?=r^v<?^J%t;^A?^4?^r^/*^-<//=v^^^^ Scale. BASEMENT OF TYRAMID IN THE PALACE OF PALENQUE. not observable anywhere else. The base was incrusted with fineslabs some 4 feet 8 inches high, with intervening pillars in reliefsome 6 feet apart, topped by a cornice of some 6 inches. Abovethis stood the wall of the second platform, indicated by traces ofa stairway which occupied the centre and led to the gallery. Thispyramid was the basement on which the palace was reared ; itis irregular on all its sides, contrary to the drawings of someexplorers, who have given it a symmetrical shape and equalelevation. It is not easy to see how the mistake could arise, forits irregularity is very apparent. The highest elevation is foundon the north side, measuring over 22 feet; the east and westsides slope down, ending at the south-east angle with a perpen-
Text Appearing After Image:
Q 2 Las Playas and Palenque. 229 dicular corner of 6 feet 6 inches ; whilst at the south-west cornerthey are level with the ground. It is the arrangement of allpyramids which were raised on platforms imperfectly levelled out;they are always found higher on the north side facing the plain,than on the south side towards the sierra. This was observablein the pyramids supporting the four buildings to the north of thepalace, in the Temple of Inscriptions, the Temple of the CrossNo. I, that of the Cross No. 2, and in the mound known as CerroAlto, over 487 feet high on the north side, and nearly on a levelwith the crest of the low hills to the south, and many more. At the south-east angle of the great pyramid, is a coveredcanal which drained a mountain stream from the south, but hasbeen long since blocked up, whilst the torrent has found a naturalbed some 75 feet from the pyramid, and falls back into the canal162 feet beyond. Our cut of the outer facade of the east gallerywill enable the rea

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