280 STONE QUARRIES. 



Frequently other smaller heads appear below t]ie large one. 

 In many instances the legs and feet, as well as the body, are 

 represented. The backs and sides are covered with the most 

 elaborate hieroglyphics, deeply carved the whole forming a 

 mass of rich ornamentation. Before several of the idols stand 

 altars, also carved in the same finished way. 



The most interesting figure which, unlike all the others, is 

 remarkable for its simplicity is that of a human being, bear- 

 ing on its head a heavy cross-like crown. It cannot fail to 

 remind those acquainted with the idols of Babylon of the 

 Triune God represented in the sculptured stones of those far- 

 famed ruins. 



STONE QUARRIES. 



Some two or three miles from the ruins are the quarries, 

 from which the stones for the buildings and statues of Copan 

 are evidently taken. Here still exist huge blocks of stone, in 

 different degrees of preparation. Near a river was found a 

 gigantic block, much larger than any in the city, which was 

 probably on its way thither, to be carved and set up, when 

 the labours of the workmen were arrested. It is difficult to 

 conjecture how these vast masses were transported over the 

 irregular and broken surface of the country, and particularly 

 how one of them was set up on the top of a mountain two 

 thousand feet in height. 



A place of this name was captured by Hernandes de 

 Chaves at the time when its now broken monuments, ruined 

 terraces, walls, and sculptured figures, were entire, and were 

 all richly painted ; and it seems strange that Europeans 

 could have beheld its wonders without spreading the report 

 of them throughout the civilized world, yet no account 



