Tour the Castle's Top Floor After its First Fifty Years

This collection consists of a series of eighty-three casts of many wonderful monuments of antiquity existing in the ruined cities of Central America, reproducing with absolute fidelity and in their actual size the extraordinary bas-reliefs and hieroglyphic inscriptions of the ancient temples of Yucatan, Tabasco, and other regions in Mexico and Central America. These antiquities were collected by Mr. Charnay during three years, under the patronage of Mr. Pierre Lorillard, of New York, at an expense of $25,000. Under the laws of the countries explored by him he was prohibited from taking any articles away, being permitted only to take casts and drawings of them. These casts or moulds in papier-maché were first shipped to Paris, where one set of casts was made in plaster for the French Government, and another for the National Museum in Washington.

From Mexico there is a bas-relief of an Indian. He is standing upright, and is a noble and impressive figure.

A large fragment from Tezeoco represents the body of a huge warrior fully twelve feet in height. The left arm is extended, while just beyond his open hand is a shield. From the Temple of Inscriptions at Palenque are ten pieces taken from the large halls, and supposed to have been part of the frieze.

Another, the " Temple of the Sun," contributes five pieces, supposed to be from its altar. Two figures about nine feet in height stand as guard on each side of the opening. Merida sends a sculptured head.

Chichenitza is represented by four pillars taken from the north facade and the fragments of columns from the great hall.

The Palace of the Nuns and the Palace Akali contribute lintels covered with inscriptions.

Effects of ornamentation and even architectural designs may be studied in these facsimiles quite as well as in the originals, and without any of the discomforts attending a visit to the localities where they are found. Students of history, of ethnology, and of language have here presented to them materials of great value for study.

Return to start of the Top Floor of the Castle's Main Hall in 1886