COPAN. 



Stone Mask feom Mexico, now in the Bbitish Museum. 



Description of Stelae axd Altars. 



The monolithic monuments at Copan are cut from a somewhat decomposed trachyte 

 rock ; for convenience of description they may be divided into Stelae and Altars. 



On the front of each Stela, and in some cases on both front and back, is a representation 

 of an elaborately decorated human figure. On the back (when it is not occupied by a 

 figure), and in some instances on both back and sides, is a hieroglyphic inscription. 

 The design is sometimes completed by the addition of scroll-work derived from the form 

 of the feathered serpent to which is added a number of small human and grotesque figures. 



The ornamentation throughout the sculptures is no doubt to a great extent symbo- 

 lical, and in the decoration of the Stelse more attention appears to have been given to 

 the display of such ornamentation than to securing correct proportion in the represen- 



biol. oestr.-amer., Archaeol., November 1890. / 



