File:Young folks' history of Mexico (1883) (14597874739).jpg

Identifier: youngfolkshistor01ober (find matches)
Title: Young folks' history of Mexico
Year: 1883 (1880s)
Authors: Ober, Frederick A. (Frederick Albion), 1849-1913
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Publisher: Boston : Estes and Lauriat
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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raditions refer to this placeas a holy city, and not only the dwelling-place of the godsand priests, but that to which the kings of the differentpeople came to be crowned. One historian relates whatis said to have happened here once, towards the destnictionof the Toltec empire. The gods were very angry^ withthe Toltecs, and to avert their wrath, a meeting of all thewise men, priests and nobles, was called at Teotihuacan,where the gods from most ancient times had been wontto hear the prayers of men. In the midst of the feasts and sacrifices an enormousdemon with long bony arms and fingers, appeared dancingin the court where the people were assembled. Whirlingthrough the crowd in every direction he seized upon theToltecs that came in his way and dashed them at his teet.He appeared a second time, and the people perished byhundreds in his clutches. At his next appearance thedemon assumed the form of a white and beautiful child,sitting on a rock and gazing at the holy city from a neighbor-
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The God of the Air. 39 ing hill-top. As the people rushed in crowds to examine thisstrange creation, it was discovered that the childs headwas a mass of corruption, the stench from which smotewith death all who approached it. Finally the devil, or thegod, appeared again and warned the Toltecs that their fatewas sealed as a nation, and that they could only escapedestruction by flight. The visitor to this city of the gods to-day will find,scattered all over the surface of the pyramids and mounds,along the road of the dead and in the adjacent fields,numerous heads of clay, or terra cotta. They aregrotesque in feature and singular in design. It is notknown what use was made of them, why they were madein such quantities, nor why only heads are found, instead ofentire figures having a body as well. It is thought bysome that these idols were given by the priests, or holy men,to the crowds of worshipers who used to resort to thiscity of sanctuaries in these early times. Whether those pyramids

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