The History of Ancient America, Anterior to the Time of Columbus / Proving the Identity of the Aborigines with the Tyrians and Israelites; and the Introduction of Christianity into the Western Hemisphere By The Apostle St. Thomas

by George Jones

"They without doubt record some event in the history of the mysterious people who once inhabited the City" (i. e. Copan).

We believe it,—and that the basso-Sculpture on the four sides, as already stated, illustrates the hieroglyphics on the surface. The details of the Sculpture must be first reviewed, in order to establish even analogy in the accessories of the Altar. 1st. The "two Serpents"—(and the same are around the walls of Uxmal).

The Serpent with the Tyrians (who copied it from their neighbours of Egypt) was their Agatho-dæmon,—or good demon of the country,—and would naturally be used to illustrate any strong act of faith, or friendship; and as a mutual act of amity had taken place between these two nations,—the Mother and Child,—for Tyrus was "the Daughter of Sidon,"—it follows that two serpents were necessary to illustrate the compound act. We have seen an ancient Tyrian Coin, on the reverse of which is a Serpent entwining an Egg,—it may be translated thus,—an Egg is the emblem of life, and it being very large upon the Coin in proportion to the Serpent, represents the germ of the Nation's life,—the Serpent by coiling around it, presents the good demon (power or Spirit) of the Country protecting the Egg, or Nation, from external injury by its numerous embraces,—the warmth of which would, also, bring it into active life. The Altar is described as standing "on four globes cut out of the stone,"—now a globe conveys the idea only of a perfect sphere, but from the drawings of the Altar these "globes" are distinctly oval, and consequently represent the form of Eggs and not "globes!" On the Coin above alluded to, the Egg is a principal emblem, and that of life,—and those symbols forming the Corner-stones, or foundation of the Altar, seem to illustrate that the story of the Sculpture represents the very existence,—or rather the birth of the Nation in its present locality, (i. e. Copan). This we believe is the fact, and the warrant for the assertion we will hereafter prove to be founded on the authority of Classical History itself. This Altar we have ever regarded as the Key-stone to the Arch, of these historical sepulchres, and architectural wonders of the Western wilderness.

The Serpents and the Eggs then are essentially Tyrian emblems.

In the description of the Altar one of the two chief personages holds in his hand an "instrument" or sceptre—but each of the lesser figures an "object"—which in the engraving is a spiral shell. These shells, also, illustrate the Nation of Tyrus, for the spiral shell is found upon nearly all the coins of that ancient country! It was placed on their coins in honour of the discovery of the secret of the celebrated colour, called by the ancients,—the Tyrian Dye. That renowned colour was not made from any earth or mineral, but from the purple murex,—or the dye shellfish. It was first discovered by a Tyrian on the shores of Tyrus,—who, wandering with his Dog, suddenly observed the mouth of his faithful companion to be empurpled,—and upon investigation, he found that it arose from the animal crushing between his teeth, a small shellfish, just then thrown upon the Tyrian beach by the waters of the Mediterranean. Improving upon the discovery, the Tyrians became so renowned for their dye used in regal and costly mantles, that in commemoration of the event, they placed upon their Coins the shell,—nor was the original discoverer forgotten, for upon a Tyrian Coin (Calmet, No. 16) the Dog is seen approaching the Shell! Some writers have questioned the manner of the discovery,—but the last-mentioned Coin confirms the historical account.

The Shell was also adapted to personify the marine character of Tyrus,—and it being upon the Altar may be viewed as another emblem of that country,—which, with the Serpents and Eggs, cannot have been placed there by caprice or accident,—but rather with absolute intent, having reference to an historical design in the Sculpture. The figures are all seated "cross-legged in the Oriental fashion." Their very position then substantiates Montezuma's assertion to Cortez, that his Ancestors many ages past, come from "the East."

One of the chief personages to the "negotiation," as Mr. Stephens calls the group, has a "Sceptre" in his hand,—and there is none in the hand of the other King or Cadmus,—(as the ancient Phœnician Chiefs were called;)—this incident is another proof of the correct reading of the Act of Amity; for at the time of its performance, Tyrus had ceased to be a nation—but Sidon had not,—the former had lost all her powers of safety,—the latter retained them,—and could, and did extend them to her "Daughter," who is represented as presenting a Shell,—perhaps the Secret of the "Dye"—as a tributary offering to her Parent,—who appears on the Altar more elevated than the other Chief figure. This still further illustrates the fact of the single sceptre and its application.

Believing, from the general and early character of the Sculpture, that Copan was the first built city in Ancient America,—we are still further warranted in the belief from the definition of the Chief Altar,—for it appears to illustrate in every particular, both by incidents and emblems, the last event of Tyrus in its Asiatic history, but which was the first event leading to the existence of the Tyrians in the Western Hemisphere. This important fact will be detailed in the History of Tyrus,—and at the present moment we will observe (without anticipating the event) that there is nothing in the Sculpture of the Altar, at variance with the illustration of that fact of History; but, on the contrary, every particular of the Sculpture completely defines the Nation and the incident. The basso sculpture of the Altar would, also, indicate an earlier erection than the surrounding "Idols," which are in Alto.

An analogy is, also, found in the political divisions, and the peculiar governments of the Mother-Country in Asia and Africa, and her descendants in Mexican America. In each Hemisphere there was a mixture of Monarchies and Republics;—as thus,—Sidon and Tyrus were governed by Kings—while Carthage, after the death of her first and only Monarch—Dido—became a Republic, and remained so,—and this fact created the lasting jealousy of the Romans. The same was in the Western Continent.—Mexico and other Nations were Monarchies, while other portions of the country were Republics. This is proved from the fact, that the most powerful war Montezuma the First ever engaged in, was that, in which the three Republics joined as a common cause against the brave, but despotic Monarch of Mexico.