50 COPAN. 



Stela H. (Plates LIV., b, to LXIL, a.) 



[Compare Stephens's 'Central America,' vol. i. pp. 149, 150; and Catherwood's 



Views, Plate 1.] 



Height 12 feet. Breadth 3 feet 3 inches. 



The circle of small stones which forms the edge of a low platform on which this 

 monument stands can be seen in the photograph (Plate LIV., b). Three out of the 

 four large stones which surrounded the base of the monument itself are still in place. 



The front of the monument, Avhieh faces the west, presents the figure of a woman 

 carved in high relief (Plates LV., LVL, & LXIL, a). With the exception of a skirt, 

 which was apparently made of tiger's skin, braided with a crossbar work of alternate 

 long and round beads, the costume and adornments differ but little from those already 

 described. The minor differences are the presence of a second ornament overlaying 

 the centre of the breastplate, the simplicity of the bracelets and sandals, on which there 

 are no grotesque heads, and the modification of the girdle. 



In the centre of the head-dress is a large grotesque mask, and at each side of the 

 mask is an arrangement of serpents' heads without lower jaws. One of these heads 

 is fringed below with feathers and tassels — a design which will be found frequently 

 repeated on other monuments. The other head has a band hanging from it adorned 

 with tassels and rosettes. 



Above the large mask is the remains of what may have been another grotesque head, 

 backed with tiger's skin. 



The whole head-dress is surrounded by gracefully arranged feather-work. 



The sides of the monument (Plates LVII. to LIX.) are somewhat similar to one 

 another in design. The lower part is occupied by an oval, a loop, and an attached 

 scroll, in a form which constantly occurs amongst the hieroglyphics; it here forms a 

 framework for a grotesque-headed human figure. From the top of the scroll spring 

 two entwined serpents, whose bodies extend to the top of the monument; but it has 

 not been found possible to trace their convolutions exactly nor to attach to them the 

 heads and the tail ornaments which form part of the decoration. Two human figures 

 holding on to the bodies of the serpents peer out from amidst the feather-work. The 

 lower of these two figures on the south side of the monument holds a mask-headed 

 baton in his left hand. 



The back of this monument (Plates LX. and LXI.) is very elaborate in design. It 

 is surrounded by a fringe of feathers and rosettes. On the lower part is an inscription 

 of eight much defaced glyphs. In the centre of the design above the inscription is a 

 grotesque mask with large ears and ear-scrolls, and with a four-lobed mark on the 

 forehead. Below this mask is a plaited ribbon, from which hangs an apron similar in 

 design to those already described as hanging from the girdles of the principal figures on 



