The Mexican month was divided into twenty days, two of which were
symbolised by the serpent and dragon. Further, the doorway of the temple,
dedicated to “the god of the air,” was so wrought as to resemble a serpent’s
mouth.
The Mexicans, however, went beyond the symbolical worship of the sacred
serpent, and like many other branches of the Ophite family, they fostered living
serpents in their dwellings as household gods. Mr. Bullock asserts that they
make the rattlesnake an object of their worship and veneration; and that
representations of this reptile, and of others of its species, are very commonly
met with among the remains of their ancient idolatry. He says that the finest
known to be in existence may be seen in a deserted part of the cloister of the
Dominican convent, opposite to the Palace of the Inquisition. It is curled up in an
irritated, erect position, with the jaws extended, and is represented in the act of
gorging a woman, richly dressed, who lies between its fangs, crushed and
lacerated.
The Conquistadors, or Spanish followers of Cortez, all assert that the Aztecs, or
inhabitants of Mexico, worshipped an idol wrought into the shape of a serpent.
Bonal Dias del Castello, one of the Spanish invader’s veteran captains, and the
chronicler of the expedition, describes the interior of the principal temple, to
which he and his leader were conducted by the Emperor Montezuma: “When we
had ascended to the summit of the temple, we observed on the platform as we
passed, the large stones on which were placed the victims intended for sacrifice.
Here was a great figure representing a Dragon, and much blood lay spilled.
Cortez, addressing Montezuma, requested him to do him the favour to show his
gods. After consulting the priests, Montezuma led them into a tower where was a
kind of hall. Here were two altars, highly adorned with richly-wrought timbers
on the roof; above the roof, spread gigantic figures like unto men. The one on
the right hand was Huitzilopochtli, their war god, with a great face and terrible
eyes. This figure was entirely covered with gold and jewels, and his body
wreathed about with golden serpents. Before the idol smoked a pan of incense,
in which the hearts of three human victims were burning, mixed with copal. The
other great figure, on the left, with a face like a bear’s, was the god of the
infernal regions. His body was everywhere covered with figures of devils,
having serpents’ tails. In this place was kept a drum of most enormous
dimensions, the head of which was made of the skins of large serpents. At a
short distance from the temple stood a tower, and at the door grinned frightful
idols, like serpents and devils: in front of these were tables and knives for