COPAN. 57 



here so much broken that the bodies cannot be traced continuously ; then descending 

 the sides they form loops with the ascending coils, and end in curiously-shaped orna- 

 ments on either side of the four lowest glyphs of the inscription. 



At each of the four corners of the base of the monument is crouched a grotesque 

 creature, half man half beast (tinted grey), supporting in its huge open mouth a small 

 human figure. These grotesques can be seen in the front, back, and side views. The 

 figure at the south-east corner is the most peculiar, its frog-like upper jaw, which is 

 turned right back, is seen in the south view only, the lower jaw can be seen in the 

 east view, and it will be noticed that the whole of the front part of the body below the 

 jaw is turned into a huge grotesque face. Above the heads of the human figures 

 which stand in the open mouths of these grotesques is the first entertwining of the 

 ascending and descending serpents' bodies, and the loop thus formed above is in each 

 case occupied by another figure with a grotesque head. 



As the back of the monument (Plates LXXXI. and LXXXII.)is turned towards the 

 steep slope of the steps leading to the temple No. 11, it was impossible to place the 

 camera in a good position, and all the views had to be taken looking down on the 

 monument from above. 



In general design the sculpture on the back is similar to that on the North face. The 

 small head on the ornament hanging over the breastplate is different in shape. The 

 mask over the head of the principal figure is in better preservation, and more dragon-like 

 in form ; the forehead is bound by a knotted cord, which ends in a flower-like 

 expansion with a fish attached to it. On either side of the mask, instead of the alligator's 

 head, there is a grotesque head, with a cross-bar ornament hanging down in place of 

 a lower jaw ; above these grotesque heads is an ornament similar in form to that 

 (left uncoloured) above the head of the large central mask ; but these latter ornaments 

 can be seen best on the side views. 



Plate LXXXIII. (a) gives a drawing of the inscription on the four stones placed 

 round the foot of the monument; unfortunately the cast is not quite complete, as 

 there were probably some additional glyphs at the end of the lines carved on separate 

 and smaller stones, which were overlooked. 



In front of this monument is an altar (Plate LXXXIII., b) rather smaller, but 

 somewhat similar to that already described as lying near the fallen Stela M, but in this 

 case the whole design is carved out of a single stone. It is in the form of a double- 

 headed dragon (a head at each end) with four legs. The sides of the body between the 

 legs are shaped into huge grotesque faces. Pound the top of the altar runs a broad 

 band with cross ties at intervals and loops at the end. 



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