. The serpent symbol, and the worship of the reciprocal principles of nature in America . honor of the Supreme Unity, inwhich no sacrifices were permitted, except the burning of incense, andwhere no images were placed. This temple was of nine stages, orstories, for the reason that it was dedicated to the Supreme God. Thisnimiber, we are explicitly informed by Boturini, had reference to thenine heavens, intervening between earth and the abode of the subjoin Boturinis account of this temple:— This celebrated Em-peror, (Nezahualcoyotl,) inwardly abhorring idolatry, inspired by God,Crea
. The serpent symbol, and the worship of the reciprocal principles of nature in America . honor of the Supreme Unity, inwhich no sacrifices were permitted, except the burning of incense, andwhere no images were placed. This temple was of nine stages, orstories, for the reason that it was dedicated to the Supreme God. Thisnimiber, we are explicitly informed by Boturini, had reference to thenine heavens, intervening between earth and the abode of the subjoin Boturinis account of this temple:— This celebrated Em-peror, (Nezahualcoyotl,) inwardly abhorring idolatry, inspired by God,Creator of Heaven and Earth, at his command, built in Tezcuco a towerof nine stages, symbolizing the nine heavens ; and upon its summiterected a dark chapel (or shrine), painted within of the finest blue, withcornices of gold, and dedicated it to God, the Creator, called in the In-dian language Tloque Nahuaque, that is to say, The One, Almighty, andAll-Merciful God, who has his seat above the Heavens. In his praise theking composed sixty songs, which have perished under the hands of the. ANCIENT SYMBOLICAL-TOWER OF NINE STAGES, NEAR , Mexico. SACRED HIGH-PLACES. 109 ignorant. In this Tower were constantly placed certain sentinels,charged to strike, four times a day, upon a plate (or cymbal) of thefinest metals; the sound of which, reaching the Emperor, reminded himto pray to God, raising his eyes to heaven, for aid to govern his sub-jects, etc.—{Idea de JVueva Historia General, p. 79.) Among the various structures yet remaining in Mexico which seem tohave been built to conform to this idea of nine heavens, is the one ofwhich an engra^ang is herewith presented (Fig. 19), from Du PaixsSecond Antiquarian Tour. It is situated in the vicinity of Tehuantepec, in Oaxaca, and occurs inconnection with other imposing structui-es. It is perfectly regular inform, built of stone, covered with cement, and pamted with Paix conjectures that its flat summit was once
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookpublishernewyo, bookyear1851
