Alice Dixon Le Plongeon facts for kids
Alice Dixon Le Plongeon (born in 1851, died in 1910) was an English photographer, explorer, and writer. She was one of the first people to dig up and study ancient Maya sites. These included famous places like Chichen Itza and Uxmal in Mexico.
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Early Life and Photography
Alice Dixon was born in London, England, on December 12, 1851. She was one of nine children. Her father, Henry Dixon, was a skilled printer who became a successful photographer. He was known for his work in photography and his pictures of London buildings.
Alice learned photography from her father. She worked as his assistant in his studio. This early training helped her a lot in her future adventures.
Meeting Augustus Le Plongeon
Alice's uncle, Dr. Jacob Dixon, was interested in Spiritualism. This was a belief that people could talk to spirits. Alice became involved in this movement when she was young. In 1871, during a spiritual meeting, a spirit supposedly predicted she would marry soon and move far away.
Later that year, Alice met Augustus Le Plongeon. He was in London studying ancient Mexican and Maya artifacts. Augustus was a French-American photographer and explorer. He was 25 years older than Alice. He had already traveled a lot in South America.
Alice quickly became interested in the ancient Maya world. She read books about Yucatán, a region in Mexico. She decided to join Augustus on his trip to the jungles of Yucatán. They traveled from London to New York to get ready for their big adventure.
Exploring Ancient Maya Sites
Alice and Augustus got married in New York before going to Mexico in 1873. When they arrived in Mérida, Alice became very sick with yellow fever. Augustus took care of her until she got better.
While she recovered, they stayed in Mérida. They met local experts and learned to speak Yucatec Maya, the language of the Maya people. Their first short trip was to Uxmal, where they explored the ruins and took photos.
Working in the Jungle
The Le Plongeons were in Yucatán during a conflict called the Caste War. This was a fight between the Maya people and the army of Yucatán. In 1875, they went to Chichen Itza with soldiers who protected them while they worked.
When they were exploring, Alice and Augustus used many methods. They took lots of photographs, including 3D pictures. They drew sketches and maps. They also made molds of ancient carvings and dug tunnels to explore buildings. They even set up a darkroom on site to develop their photos!
They hired local Maya men to help clear the thick jungle plants. The whole team faced many challenges. They dealt with sickness, hunger, intense heat, insects, and dangerous wildlife.
Besides Chichen Itza and Uxmal, they also worked near Mérida and at Mayapan. In 1878, they went to British Honduras. They had to return to the United States because they ran out of money.
Finding Support
From 1880 to 1884, the Le Plongeons continued their work in Mexico City and Yucatán. They made a few trips back to New York when they needed money. Rich people like cigarette maker Pierre Lorillard and Phoebe Hearst helped fund their work.
In New York, they gave talks about their discoveries. They also tried to sell their molds of ancient carvings to museums.
Discoveries and Ideas
By studying the ancient paintings and statues at Chichen Itza, Alice and Augustus formed their own ideas. They believed they had found the story of an ancient Maya ruler named Queen Moo. They also thought her brother was Prince Coh, sometimes called Prince Chaacmol.
Over time, their ideas grew. They even came to believe that the ancient Maya had helped start the ancient Egyptian civilization. They also thought the Maya were connected to the lost city of Atlantis.
The Chacmool Statue
In November 1875, the Le Plongeons found a large statue at Chichen Itza. It showed a man lying down. They believed it was a statue of Prince Chaacmol. They named it Chacmool. This statue was seen as a very important archaeological find.
Near the statue, they found other items. These included flint, pottery pieces, and a piece of jade. Augustus put the jade into a gold brooch. Alice wore this special charm for the rest of her life.
Life in New York
In 1884, the Le Plongeons left Mexico and settled in New York City. There, Alice focused on her writing and giving lectures. She wrote articles and organized all her notes from their expeditions.
Alice also joined several social groups. She was part of Sorosis, an organization for professional women. She gave talks to raise money for the New York Diet Kitchen Association, which helped feed poor people.
She continued her strong interest in Spiritualism, Freemasonry, and the Rosicrucians. She was also active in the Theosophical Society, a group that studied different religions and philosophies.
Facing Criticism
Many archaeologists did not accept the Le Plongeons' ideas about Queen Moo. Alice felt "bitterly indignant" that their work was not recognized. But despite the criticism, they kept writing and lecturing about their findings.
In 1886, Alice published her book Here and There in Yucatan. In 1902, her long poem Queen Moo's Talisman came out. She also wrote about the Maya founding Atlantis in A Dream of Atlantis. This story was published in parts in The World Magazine from 1909 to 1911.
Augustus Le Plongeon became ill in 1908. Alice spent much time caring for him until he passed away in December of that year. Alice continued to write and give talks after her husband's death. However, she became sick herself and was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 1910. She died on June 8, 1910, in New York.
Works
- Here and There in Yucatan (1886)
- Queen Moo's Talisman (1902)
- A Dream of Atlantis (1909-1911, published in serial form)
| Subjects - Places | Country | Year | Other Information | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chichen Itza | Mexico | 1873 - 1883 | ||
| Pyramid of the Magician | Mexico | 1876 |
See also
In Spanish: Alice Dixon Le Plongeon para niños
