Note 599 — Chapter XV · NAHUA ARTS AND MANUFACTURES.

'Sculptured images were so numerous, that the foundations of the cathedral in the plaza mayor, the great square of Mexico, are said to be entirely composed of them.' Prescott's Mex., vol. i., pp. 140-1. Two statues in likeness of Montezuma and his brother cut in the cliff at Chapultepec. Duran, Hist. Indias, MS., tom. i., cap. iii. The idols destroyed by Cortés 'eran de manera de dragones espantables, tan grandes como becerros, y otras figuras de manera de medio hombre, y de perros grandes, y de malas semejanças.' Bernal Diaz, Hist. Conq., fol. 35. 'Sapevano esprimere nelle loro statue tutti gli atteggiamenti, e positure, di cui è capace il corpo, osservavano esattamente le proporzioni, e facevano, dove si richiedeva, i più minuti, e dilicati intaglj.' Clavigero, Storia Ant. del Messico, tom. ii., p. 195. 'Habia entre ellos grandes escultores de cantería, que labraban cuanto querian en piedra, con guijarros ó pedernales, tan prima y curiosamente como en nuestra Castilla los muy buenos oficiales con escodas y picos de acero.' Mendieta, Hist. Ecles., p. 403; Torquemada, Monarq. Ind., tom. ii., pp. 486-8. Portrait-statues of the Tezcucan kings. Ixtlilxochitl, Hist. Chich., in Kingsborough's Mex. Antiq., vol. ix., p. 264; Id., Relaciones, p. 440. Statues of Montezuma and brother. Bustamante, in Cavo, Tres Siglos, tom. iii., p. 49.