File:The history of ancient Mexico - from the foundation of that empire to its destruction by the Spaniards (1832) (14780146911).jpg

Identifier: historyofancient01gord (find matches)
Title: The history of ancient Mexico : from the foundation of that empire to its destruction by the Spaniards
Year: 1832 (1830s)
Authors: Gordon, Thomas Francis, 1787-1860
Subjects: Indians of Mexico
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed for and published by the author : and for sale by the principal booksellers in the U. States
Contributing Library: Getty Research Institute
Digitizing Sponsor: Getty Research Institute

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icalco, and the other Xicatetl. From tliiscircumstance it has been inferred that the monumentderived its name from one of these combatants.Near Xochichalco, sixty years since, a stone wasfound on which was represented in relief, an eagletearing a captive; an allusion, probably to a victoryobtained by tlie Mexicans, over some neighbouringnation. *t XXVIIT. Ample revenues were assigned for themaintenance of tliis stupendous system of idolatory.Each temple had its lands, and serfs to cultivatethem, under tlie direction of the priests. Besidewhich, the oflerin;s of every kind, made by thesuperstitious worshippers, were enormously great.After providing for the priests, these stores wereannually distributed to the poor. * Humboldts Researches, Artie.monument of Xochichalco.Descripcion de las antiquidades de Xochichalco, pai Don Jo-seph Antonia Alzate, and Kaniirer., Mexico, 1791. Due An-tichi Monumenti di ArchitecluraMessicana, illustrati da PietriMarquez. Rome 1804. t See note A. Appendix.
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CH. VI. MEXICO. 209 The numbers of priests necessarily correspondedwith the multitude of the gods and the temples;nor was the homage they received much less thanthat offered to the divinities themselves. The areaof the great temple of Mexico alone is said to havecontained five thousand; and the number of thereligious ministers throughout the empire, is sup-posed to have exceeded a million. The principalnobles vied with each other, in consecrating theirchildren to the temporary service of the gods with-in the temples; whilst the inferior ones employedtheirs in works without, in carrying wood, feedingthe fires, and like offices; all deeming the honourof ministering to the gods the greatest to whichthc^ could aspire. \. 3 priesthood was formed into a hierarchy, ofwhich two high priests, bearing the names of Tco-teyctli, (divine lord,) and Ntteiteopixqui, greatpriest, were the heads. This eminent dignity wasconferred only, on men distinguished for their birth,probity, and profound knowled

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