quarters of pesos, but was considerably increased in later years, as the completion was not finally effected till the beginning of the present century.[1]
The dimensions of the cathedral are 393 feet in length from north to south, by 192 feet in width from east to west.[2] The architecture is of the Doric order,[3] all the columns, bases, capitals, cornices, and friezes being of hewn stone, and the other work of tetzontli.[4]
The whole edifice, containing fourteen chapels, is divided into five parts, the principal one, the main nave, being 53 feet wide from column to column. Five portals give entrance, three of them facing the great square or plaza toward the south, while light is admitted by 174 windows. The cupola, 184 feet above the pavement, and of octagonal form, is surmounted by a fanal 44 feet high. In this magnificent temple were placed many and valuable images and ornaments. Among the former the most remarkable was that of Our Lady of the Assumption, wrought of gold, as was also the pedestal and the four angels supporting the image.[5] Another was that of Our Lady of the Conception of pure silver,[6] and less valuable ones
- ↑ Hernandez, Estad. Méj., 257-8, says that expenses till 1677 amounted to 2,543,264 pesos. The annual appropriation from the royal treasury was 18,500 pesos; and one year 13,000 pesos more were granted by the crown. Sariñana, Not. breve, 20. Bustamante in Alegre, Hist. Comp. Jesus, ii. 410, makes a blunder when he gives the cost up to 1667 as 1,050,000 pesos. Worse still is Saavedra in Dicc. Univ., ii. 280, who asserts that the cathedral was finished in 1657 by Márcos Ramirez de Prado and dedicated by him on the 22d of December, the amount expended so far being 1,759,000 pesos. Ramirez did not become archbishop of Mexico till November 1666, and died the following year in May, seven months before the inauguration of 1667 took place.
- ↑ Orozco y Berra, in Dicc. Univ., v. 674, copies the above statement of Sariñana, but is evidently mistaken in his Mem. Ciud. Mex., 96, where he mentions 130
12and 61 metres. Saavedra, in loc. cit., differs again, saying 15523and 73 varas. - ↑ Vetancurt, Trat. Mex., 17, says it is of the Ionic order.
- ↑ A red, light, hard, porous stone, which was found in the neighborhood of Mexico and extensively used for buildings. See also Native Races, ii. 160, 557, 568, this series.
- ↑ Its weight is that of 139 marks of gold, then representing 6,984 pesos de oro.
- ↑ Weighing 138 marks and more than one vara high; it was a present of the silversmiths of Mexico. Since 1618 it had had its own chapel. Ribera, Gobernantes, i. 221, says erroneously it was of gold.
