Page:Queen Moo and the Egyptian Sphinx.djvu/131

Rh ern façades of King Can's palace at Uxmal. This edifice was also the residence of the pontiff.

A knowledge of antique geometric symbology makes it easy to understand these cosmic diagrams. In the centre of the figure we see a circle inscribed within the hexagon formed by the sides of two interlaced equilateral triangles.

The Egyptians held the equilateral triangle as the symbol of nature, beautiful and fruitful. In their hieroglyphs it meant "worship." For the Christians the equilateral triangle, containing the open eye of Siva, is the symbol of Deity. The Hindoos and the Chaldees regarded it as emblem of the spirit of the universe. Exoterically this central circle represents the sun, the light and life-giver of the physical world, evolved from fire and water.

It is well known that among the ancient occultists, of all nations, the triangle with the apex upward symbolized "fire;" that with the apex downward, "water." The outer circle that circumscribes the triangles is the horizon, that apparent boundary of the material world, within which, in his daily travels, the sun seems to be tied up. Hence the name Inti-huatana, "sun's halter," given by the ancient Peruvians to the stone circles so profusely scattered over the high plateaus of the Andes, along the shores of Lake Titicaca, in India, Arabia, northern Africa, northern Europe, where they are known as druidical circles. Their use is still a matter of discussion for European antiquaries. They disdain to seek in America for the explanation of the motives that prompted their erection and that of many other constructions, as well as the origin of