Chapter XX: Appendix

LIST OF MORE IMPORTANT GOLD AND JADE OBJECTS FOUND
IN THE SACRED WELL

One basin of fine gold, twelve inches in diameter with shallow rounding
bottom. About a pound in weight.

Four other basins, bowls or cups, smaller in size, uncarved, but of
massive material and very artistic in contour.

None of the above basins were twisted, cut or broken.

Seven gold disks, embossed or beaten, about ten inches in diameter.

Eight gold disks, embossed or beaten, about eight inches in diameter.

Seventeen gold disks, embossed or beaten, about six inches in diameter.

Ten gold disks, embossed or beaten, small sizes.

One handsome _penache_, forehead band or tiara, over eight inches long
by four inches wide, of beautiful openwork, the design being entwined
serpents with plumed head-dress.

This is the finest piece of gold work ever found in the Maya area.

Eleven reptile and animal figures, probably brooches and similar
ornaments; all massive gold and finely worked. Frogs, bat-like
figures and monkey-like objects, most of them cast (not beaten work),
massive and of pure gold.

Fourteen small gold objects shaped like candlesticks.

Ten human or monkey-like figures of gold.

Twenty gold rings, mostly of thin but pure gold.

Sixty other objects of unknown use but of gold material.

One hundred bells of various sizes but all gold, even to the clappers.

Forty other unclassified objects, either of pure gold or of gold
and bronze; sandals, disks, ferrule-like objects, pieces and strips
evidently portions of shields and regalia ornaments.

Forty gold washers or scales, one and a quarter inches in diameter,
with holes in the center.

One solid-gold mask seven inches in diameter, the eyes closed as if in
sleep or in death and over the right eyelid the same kind of slanting
cross that we often see carved on the so-called elephants’ trunks.

One gold _hul-che_ (throwing-stick) of entwined serpents.

Seven jade plaques or tablets, broken but restored, three inches by
four inches.

Nine jade tablets, two inches by four inches by one quarter inch thick.
The jade tablets were evidently broken intentionally before being
thrown into the well.

One hundred sixty beautifully carved large jade beads and pendants of
large size, virtually perfect.

Seventy carved jade ear-ornaments, nose- and labret ornaments, from two
inches in diameter down to one half inch, all finely cut and
polished.

Fourteen jade globes, one and a half inches in diameter, all very
finely polished and several finely carved with well-executed figures
and other designs.

One small but very finely worked and polished jade figurine, four
inches wide and four inches high. It represents a seated figure of
the Palenquin type with elaborate head-dress. It is perfect and is
one of the finest, if not the finest figure found in the Maya area.

Many hundreds of small jade beads of all sizes and shapes, all
polished; many of them artistically carved and shaped.

One flint-bladed sacrificial knife with the handle formed of golden
entwined serpents. It is the only perfect one taken from the Sacred
Well and probably the only authentic and perfect knife of this kind
in any museum on the American continents. At least it is the only one
in the Peabody Museum.

Several parts of other knives, such as handles, flint blades, etc.

Many beautiful flint spear-heads worth many times their weight in gold,
worked down to the thickness of a steel spear-head with edges as
sharp as a razor, the finest ever found anywhere in the world.

A thousand other articles of great value to archæology.

INDEX

Agriculture in Yucatan, 6

Aguilar, Gerónimo de, first of the Spanish conquerors, 166, 167, 170

Akab Tzib, or House of the Writing in the Dark, 62, 63, 64

Alphabet of Landa for employing Maya glyphs to denote Spanish
letters, 41, 42

Alvarado, José, Silver King of Mexico, 235

Ancient cities, condition of at time of Spanish Conquest, 43, 44

Animal figures and carvings recovered from Sacred Well, 135, 137

Annexes, unnamed temples near Nunnery, 69, 70

Arches, Maya, 195

Atlantean figures, 78, 79, 85, 86

Atlantis theory of Mayan ethnology, 36

_Bal-che_, an ancient intoxicating beverage, 115, 137, 244

Balustrades with serpent motif, 77, 78, 80, 238

Bas-reliefs and full-relief works, 79, 80, 81, 82, 219, 220, 221,
224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 32, 233, 234

Bas-Reliefs, Temple of, 81, 82, 219, 220, 221, 228, 229, 230

Beams, sapote, 78

Bells of copper from High Priest’s Tomb, 246

Bells of copper and gold recovered from Sacred Well, 131, 132

Boa-constrictors, 95, 96, 182, 241, 242

Bolshevism among natives, 17

Bowls and disks of gold recovered from Sacred Well, 133, 134

Brooches recovered from Sacred Well, 135

_Caluacs_ or ceremonial wands, 135, 143

Caracol, or Snail-shell, 71, 72, 73

Carnegie Expedition in Chi-chen Itza, 87, 279, 280

Casa Real, home and estate of Don Eduardo,
Ancient gateway, 55, 56, 57
First view by Don Eduardo, 55, 56
Looting by unruly natives, 17
Size of estate, 60

Caves, 33, 97, 139

Cenotes (see Wells), 135, 143

Chac Mool figures, 82, 182

Chich-an Chob, Red House, or Strong, Clean House, 73, 74, 75

Chilan Balam, Maya writings in Spanish characters, 37, 38, 40

Chi-chen Itza,
Arrangement of buildings, 60, 61
Distinction between old and new cities, 47, 60, 280
Lack of streets, 60, 61
Location and how to get there, 3, 5
Montejo’s military headquarters, 172, 173
Retreat of Spaniards from, 70, 71, 173

Chisels,
Recovered from Sacred Well, 132, 133
Of nephrite found near Great Pyramid, 192, 193

Chronicles, Maya, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42

Church, or Iglesia, 69, 70

Cisterns, 98, 99

Codices, Maya, rare books written in hieroglyphs, 37, 38, 39, 232

Conquest of Yucatan by Spaniards, a brief history, 166 to 178

Construction of Maya temples, 189 to 197

Copal, 107, 108, 110, 111, 112, 113, 119, 121, 139, 140, 142, 246

Copper and gold objects recovered from Sacred Well, 131 to 137

Córdoba, Francisco de Hernandez, commander of second Spanish
expedition to Yucatan, 167, 168

Cortes, Hernan, commander of Fourth Spanish expedition to Yucatan,
146, 147, 169, 170, 171, 174, 175

Costume and arms of ancient Mayas, 20, 22, 227, 228, 229

Costume of modern Mayas, 11, 12

Cotton, 248

Cruelties of Spanish conquerors, 175, 176

Cuzmil, ancient city of, 169, 170

Dances, native ancient, 22

Dances, native modern, 18, 19

Dates, earliest recorded Mayan, 37

Date-stone of Chi-chen Itza, 184, 185

Deities of the Mayas,
God of Death, 53, 246
Rain God, 53, 54, 55

Disks and bowls of gold recovered from Sacred Well, 133, 134

Diving operations in Sacred Well, 118 to 131

Dredging of Sacred Well, 55, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110,
111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 122, 123, 124, 125

Earthen jars from High Priest’s Tomb, 257

El Castillo, or the Great Pyramid of Kukul Can, 50, 51, 75, 76, 77,
78, 79

Elephant head controversy, 214

Embroidery, 12

Fabrics recovered from Sacred Well, 121, 144

Fiestas, ancient Maya, 21, 22

Finds in Sacred Well, 107 to 115, 121, 129 to 146

Fuentes, Francisco de las, lieutenant of Montejo, 28

Geological formation of Yucatan, 97

Gold and copper objects recovered from Sacred Well, 131 to 137

Gold, value (compared with jade) to ancient Mayas, 146, 147

Golden Age of Maya Art, 211, 212

Gourds and gourd implements, 121, 140, 141

Great Pyramid of Kukul Can, or El Castillo, 50, 51, 75, 76, 77, 78,
79

Grijalva, Juan de, commander of third Spanish expedition to Yucatan,
168

Gymnasium, or Tennis-court, 82, 83, 84, 85

Henequen, from which rope and twine are made, 6

Hieroglyphs, 41, 42, 213, 214

Homes, ancient Maya, 20, 21

Homes, modern Maya, 15, 16

Homes in Mérida, 8, 9

House of the Writing in the Dark, Akab Tzib, 62, 63, 64

_Hul-che_, or throwing-stick, 108, 109, 110

Humor, Maya sense of, 18

Iglesia, or Church, 69, 70

“Incidents of Travel in Yucatan,” by John L. Stephens, 5

Itzamna, mythical founder of race, 34

Jade, value (compared with gold) to ancient Mayas, 146, 147

Jade from High Priest’s Tomb, 247, 249, 257

Jade recovered from Sacred Well, 130, 141, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148

Jewelry, modern Mayan, 13, 200, 201

Knives, sacrificial, recovered from Sacred Well, 136

Kukul Can, hero deity of the Itzas, 34, 46, 50, 217, 260

La Casa de las Monjas, or the Nunnery, 52, 64 to 69, 227, 233

Lance poles and other wooden objects recovered from Sacred Well, 141,
142, 143

Landa Alphabet for employing Maya glyphs to denote Spanish letters, 41

Landa, Diego de, 19

Legends,
Itzamna, 34
Ix-lol Nicte, 150 to 163
Kukul Can, 34
_La flor de Calentura_, 24 to 31
Lorelei, 198 to 207
Misfortunes of Mayas prior to the Conquest, 44 to 47
Present of jade from Montezuma to Cortes, 146, 147
Sacrificial pilgrimage, 261 to 276
Wizard Potters, 207 to 210
Xkan-xoc, 163 to 165

Le Plongeon, Maya archæologist, 92

Lintels, 63, 64, 195

Maler, Teoberto, 214, 221, 222, 223, 224

Marital customs of modern Mayas, 14

Masks of copper and gold recovered from Sacred Well, 132

Maya Chronicles, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43

Maya Codices, rare books written in hieroglyphs, 37, 38, 39, 232

Maya, derivation of name, 33, 34

Maya language, 10

Mayas, ancient,
Costumes and arms, 20, 21, 22, 227, 228
Dances, 21, 22
Deities, 54, 55, 246
Homes, 20, 21
Music, 21, 22
Occupations, 22
Physical characteristics, 20
Pride in genealogy, 23
Tattooing, 21

Mayas, modern,
Cleanliness, 13
Costume, 11, 12
Dances, 18, 19
Homes, 15, 16
Honesty, 14
Hospitality, 14, 15
Humor, 18
Improvidence, 18
Jewelry, 13, 200, 201
Language, 10
Laziness, 18
Marital customs, 14
Music, 18, 19
Physical characteristics, 10, 11
Religious outlook, 15
Treatment by plantation-owners, 16, 17
Unconquered tribes (Sublevados), 17, 18

Mayas, earliest mythical wanderings, 34, 35, 36
Later legendary history, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47

Mayapan, invasion of, 43, 46

Medallions recovered from Sacred Well, 133, 134, 137

Mérida, capital of Yucatan,
American Club, 9
Ball, 8
Carnival, 8
Description of, 6, 7, 8
Homes, 8, 9
Palace of Montejo, 9

Monoliths, 78, 79, 80

Montejo, Francisco de, 169, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175
Retreat from Chi-chen Itza, 70, 173, 174

Montejo the Younger, 174, 175, 176, 177

Montezuma, King of the Aztecs, 146, 147

Mortuary urns, 139

Murals, 80, 81, 82, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 224, 225, 226, 227,
228, 229

Music, native ancient, 21, 22

Music, native modern, 18, 19

Nahuatls, 43, 47

Nahuatl influence on Maya culture and art, 47, 64, 197, 211, 212,
217, 218

Names of persons indicated in murals and bas-reliefs, 232, 233

Nunnery, or La Casa de las Monjas, 52, 64 to 69, 227, 233

Padres, coming of, 176, 177

Phallic cult, 143, 144

Physical characteristics of ancient Mayas, 20

Physical characteristics of modern Mayas, 10, 11

Pigments used by ancient Mayas, 191, 192, 194, 195, 220

Plaster or stucco used in Maya buildings, 191

Pottery and potsherds, 107, 113, 119, 136, 138, 139, 244, 245, 246,
247, 257, 258, 259

Progreso, only seaport of Yucatan, 73, 74, 75

Relacion de las Cosas de Yucatan, the book by Diego de Landa, 19, 20

Rings recovered from Sacred Well, 130, 132, 137

Roads, ancient construction, 89, 90, 91
Location, 60, 61, 88, 90

Rock-crystal beads from High Priest’s Tomb, 247

Rubber finds in the Sacred Well, 110, 111, 112

Sabua skull, 115, 116

Sacca, an intoxicating drink, 245

Sacred Way, linking the Sacred Well and Temple of Kukul Can, 52, 53,
54, 55, 97 to 102

Sacred Well,
Diving operations in, 122 to 149
Dredging, 59, 103 to 122
Finds in, 107 to 149

Sacrifice of maidens, 53 to 55

Sacrificial knives recovered from Sacred Well, 136

San Isidro, Church of, 24

Sandals recovered from Sacred Well, 114

Sapote beams, 78

Scorpions, 240, 241

Semitic features of some ancient Mayan sculptures and murals, 35, 36,
83

Serpents, 95, 96, 182, 241, 242

Serpent balustrades and monoliths, 78, 79, 80, 238, 239

Skeletal remains in Tomb of the High Priest, 244, 245, 246, 247

Skeletons from Sacred Well, 114, 115, 116, 121

Snail-shell, or Caracol, 71, 72, 73

Sounding device for discovery of hidden cavities, 239, 240

Spiders, 257

Stairways, 74, 77, 78, 190, 238

Stelæ, 196, 214

Stephens, John L., American traveler and writer on Yucatan, 5

Stone point-work of ancient Mayas, 141, 142, 226, 234

Strong, Clean House, Red House or Chich-an Chob, 73, 74, 75

Sublevados, unconquered tribes, 17, 18

Tattooing in ancient times, 21

Temple of Columns, 86, 87

Temple of Cones, 86

Temple of Owls, 230

Temples in Chi-chen Itza,
Annexes, unnamed temples near Nunnery, 69, 70

Temples in Chi-chen Itza,
Construction of, 189 to 197
Great Pyramid of Kukul Can, or El Castillo, 50, 51, 75, 76, 77, 78,
79
Iglesia or Church, 69, 70
House of the Writing in the Dark, Akab Tzib, 62, 63, 64
Nunnery, or La Casa de las Monjas, 52, 64 to 69, 227, 233
Red House, Strong Clean House, or Chich-an Chob, 73, 74, 75
Snail-shell or Caracol, 71, 72, 73
Temple of Bas-Reliefs, 81, 82, 219, 220, 221, 228, 229, 230
Temple of Columns, 86, 87
Temple of Cones, 86
Temple of Owls, 230
Tiger Temple, 79, 80, 81, 214, 215, 216
Unnamed Temples, 87

Tennis-court, or Gymnasium, 82, 83, 84, 85

Tiger Temple, 79, 80, 81, 214, 215, 216

Throwing-stick or _hul-che_, 108, 109, 110

Tomb of the High Priest, 75, 236 to 260

Tools used in construction of Maya buildings, 190 to 197

Totanacs, 215, 216, 217

Treatment of an ancient painted stone to restore its colors, and the
story it tells, 230, 231, 232

Treatment of natives by plantation-owners, 16, 17

Tuxtla statuette, 37

Ulumil, chieftain of the Itzas, 43

Unconquered tribes (Sublevados), 17, 18

Unnamed Temples in Chi-chen Itza, 87

Uxmal, founding of, 43

Vase of alabaster-like substance from High Priest’s Tomb, 256, 257

Velasquez Diego, Governor of Cuba, 168, 171

Wasps, 182, 183

Wells or cenotes,
Chen ku (see Sacred Well)
General, 97, 98, 99
Tol-oc, 58, 59, 99, 100
X-Katum, 100
Yula, 101

Whipping-post, 16, 17

Wooden objects recovered from Sacred Well, 141, 142, 143, 144

Xtavantum, an intoxicating Maya beverage, 201

+----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | FOOTNOTES: | | | | [1] The suffix “el” added to any Maya word denotes action. In the | | glyph sign this often was indicated by adding the wing of a bird to | | the main hieroglyph; therefore “Mayanel” was an active woman, hence | | very clever.—_Author._ | | | | [2] In an article written for “Harper’s Magazine,” by Mr. Edward | | Huntington, reference is made to the Jewish cast of features of | | the modern Mayas, and I have often noticed the similarity. One | | prominent writer on Yucatan considers the possibility of Jewish | | origin for the Mayas as being the most substantial of the several | | theories I have mentioned.—_Author._ | | | | [3] Peten: “Something surrounding an island.” | | | | [4] “The Four Winds” is a Maya expression. | | | | [5] The Spanish Conquerors, as will be seen from this description, | | were not previously familiar with rubber. | | | | [6] A _katun_ is a little less than twenty years. | | | | [7] The protecting serpent does not necessarily indicate that the | | invaders were Mayas or believers in the cult of Kukul Can; it | | merely points out the “big man” or leader. | | | | [8] By “archers” Landa doubtless meant fighting-men armed with the | | _hul-che_. | | | | [9] Several sacrificial knives were found in the Sacred Well. | | | | [10] Shown on page 39. | | | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

Transcriber’s Notes:

- Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). - Blank pages have been removed. - Advertisements have been moved to the back. - Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. - Some spelling and hyphenation variations have been made consistent.