We will advance another reason for believing that Copan was the first City built in Mexican America,—viz., the square column (or obelisk) only, is found there,—while in other ruins, excepting Palenque, the circular is perceptible,—the latter are found at Mitla and Uxmal,—thus establishing (almost conclusively) that those cities were of later erection,—for the square column is easier in formation than the circular,—and the latter is produced from the former,—and consequently two columns are made in producing the circular shaft. The square is, also, better adapted, from its facial character, for the purposes of Sculpture; as illustrated in the Idol-obelisks at Copan,—and that which would be the simplest in construction, and giving the greatest facility for its peculiar adaptation, would naturally be selected by a People for their first Temple:—yet, reserving to themselves for practice at a future day, the knowledge possessed in the more refined branches of the Art:—they subsequently illustrated that superior knowledge at Palenque and Uxmal. In the conclusion of this section, however, it will be shewn that the square style of Architecture was essentially Tyrian, and that it is distinctly visible at Copan and Palenque. An analogy in regard to antiquity is found from the stuccoing or plaistering of the walls. This custom in Art is one of the most ancient on record. Mr. Stephens would infer from the fact of stuccoing that they had a modern origin, and actually calls it in one place—"plaister of Paris!" The custom is mentioned by the first Lawgiver 1451 YEARS before the Christian Æra!
"And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaister them with plaister: and thou shalt WRITE upon them all the words of this law." [Deut. xxvii. 2, 3.]
Here is not only the proof of the ancient custom of stuccoing, or hard plaistering;—but, also, the fact of Sculpture, or writing upon Stucco,—of course in its damp state, and when dry it became, as at Palenque, "as hard as stone." Again,—It, also, covered the interior of the palatial walls of Babylon, and was the surface upon which was traced the handwriting at Belshazzar's Feast,—this was 538 B. C.
"In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick,—upon the plaister of the wall of the King's palace." [Dan. v. 5.]
Another analogy is found upon this point of art, as being used by both the ancient Tyrians and the Aborigines;—for the walls of Tyrus were built of large blocks of stone—not very hard—but protected from the weather by hard white-plaister,—or stucco;—the walls of Palenque seem to be a direct imitation.
It was a custom of the ancient nations to paint their statues, or figures on the walls, with the primitive colours,—but chiefly red or vermilion. In so doing they believed that they approached the colour of the Gods,—and in Rome, from the same feeling, a Conqueror granted the honour of a triumphal entry to the Capital, was always painted red, in supposed imitation of the God of War.
It is recorded in Scripture as being practised by the Chaldeans, and as a consequence by their associates the Babylonians.
"For when she saw men pourtrayed on the wall,—the images of the Chaldeans pourtrayed with vermilion, &c." [Eze. xxiii. 14.]
It was, also, practised by the Egyptians and Tyrians,—and is now discovered in America:—for Mr. Stephens states that the sculpture, and even the steps, had been painted,—that black and white,—red, blue, and yellow are distinctly visible, but that the Red (vermilion) is predominant. From the number of colours another analogy is traceable, for of all the ancient nations that of Tyrus was the most renowned for her knowledge of colours,—and when to the "primitive three," she added by her discovery the celebrated tint, or Tyrian Dye, her renown was increased, and spread throughout all the Nations,—so much so, that they sent their royal mantles to Tyrus to receive the costly dye—and from that fact, regal robes have continued to be tinted, even to this day, with the gorgeous Purple,—which, though originally intended for blood-stained Kings and warriors,—succeeding ages have placed upon even the graceful forms of dove-eyed Queens; (so strong is custom)—while the first and Heavenly colour—blue,—and which from Scripture was the tint of Aaron's Robes of Peace,—has passed unheeded by, although commanded by The voice of The King of Kings.
"And thou shalt make the robe of the Ephod all of blue." [Ex. xxviii. 31.]