DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.29899#0625
Bk. II. Ch. III. HOUSE OF TIIE VIRGINS OF THE SUN.
605
and is divided into twelve small square rooms on the ground-floor,
and as many similar rooms above them. Several of these chambers
were surrounded by others, and those that had no doors externally
had no openings like windows (except one with two slits in the upper
storey) ; and they must have been as dark as dungeons, unless the
upper ones were lighted from the roof, which is by no means impro-
bable. The most striking architectural features they possess are the
doorways, which exactly resemble the Etruscan, both in shape and
mode of decoration. We are able in this case to rely upon the
accuracy of the representation, so that there can be no doubt of the
close similarity.
Another building on the island of Coata, in the sacred lake of
1031. House of the Virgins of the Sun. (From a Sketeh by J. B. Pentland.)
Titicaca, is raised on tive low terraces, and surrounds three sides of a
courtyard, its principal decoration being a range of doorways, some
of them false ones, constructed with upright jambs, but contracted at
the top by projecting courses of masonry, like inverted stairs—in
this instance, however, only imitative, as the building is of rubble.
The masonry of the principal tomb represented in the Woodcut
No. 1032 may be taken as a fair specimen of the middle style of
masonry ; less rude than that of the house of Manco Capac, but less
perfect than that of many subsequent examples. It is square in plan
—a rare form for a tomb in any part of the world—and flat-roofed.
The sepulchral chamber occupies the base, and is covered by a floor,
above which is the only opening. The other tomb in the background
is likewise square, but differs from the first in being of hetter masonry,
605
and is divided into twelve small square rooms on the ground-floor,
and as many similar rooms above them. Several of these chambers
were surrounded by others, and those that had no doors externally
had no openings like windows (except one with two slits in the upper
storey) ; and they must have been as dark as dungeons, unless the
upper ones were lighted from the roof, which is by no means impro-
bable. The most striking architectural features they possess are the
doorways, which exactly resemble the Etruscan, both in shape and
mode of decoration. We are able in this case to rely upon the
accuracy of the representation, so that there can be no doubt of the
close similarity.
Another building on the island of Coata, in the sacred lake of
1031. House of the Virgins of the Sun. (From a Sketeh by J. B. Pentland.)
Titicaca, is raised on tive low terraces, and surrounds three sides of a
courtyard, its principal decoration being a range of doorways, some
of them false ones, constructed with upright jambs, but contracted at
the top by projecting courses of masonry, like inverted stairs—in
this instance, however, only imitative, as the building is of rubble.
The masonry of the principal tomb represented in the Woodcut
No. 1032 may be taken as a fair specimen of the middle style of
masonry ; less rude than that of the house of Manco Capac, but less
perfect than that of many subsequent examples. It is square in plan
—a rare form for a tomb in any part of the world—and flat-roofed.
The sepulchral chamber occupies the base, and is covered by a floor,
above which is the only opening. The other tomb in the background
is likewise square, but differs from the first in being of hetter masonry,