95 – Miniature Model of the Temple of Holmeek (Home Votive)
Decline, Sividian, found at Houndee
Metal
Height: (without base): 546 cm. | Width: (across base): 22 cm.
The most complete description of a rite is given as part of the autobiographical writings of a Royal Mace-Bearer at Houndee. From his description, below, of a procession to the Temple of Holmeek it is evident that the society had been segmented into castes by the Decline. A merchant class trades in the bazaar which suggests something about the physical size and plan of the city; there is enough wealth concentrated in the hands of a few to make a class of beggars possible. There is a class of craftsmen represented by carpet-makers and candle-makers as well as religious castes represented by the Temple Virgins, the Holy Whores, and the Tomb Washers whose very young daughters are chosen by lottery as the darkdow and are starved to death in advance of this processional festival.8 The following translation was made by Dr. Chai Lung Lee, director of the Institute of Paleography, Peking, China.
Adapted from the original catalog for The Civilization of Llhuros, ©1971-2021 Cornell University, licensed under CC BY-NC