QUIKIGUA. 13 



above this human head is a grotesque mask with the wing of a serpent-bird on either 

 side of it. 



The human figure standing on this pedestal has the hands raised to grasp the 

 breastplate (as in Stelse A and C), the thumb of each hand resting on the tasselled 

 shoulder-ornament. Bound the upper arm is a band bearing a tasselled ornament 

 similar to that on the shoulder, but decorated with a human instead of a grotesque 

 full face. The head-dress is very elaborate. The head is surmounted by two grotesque 

 masks bordered on each side by a chain-like band which will be referred to later. 

 Outside this band is the frequently occurring plaited ornament with the wing of the 

 serpent-bird above and below (the upper wings reversed). Above the two grotesque 

 masks is a third grotesque head, which in this case appears to be that of the serpent- 

 bird with wings extended on either side of it, and probably the tail-feathers spread 

 out above : the ornament on its breast is like that already noted in a similar 

 position on the south of Stela D and the north of Stela E. From under the ends of 

 this breast-ornament of the serpent-bird hang the two chain-like bands already 

 mentioned ; they pass behind the ears and under the hands of the principal figure, and 

 hang down as far as the lower band of the girdle, where each ends in a grotesque 

 snake's head without a lower jaw *. In place of the lower jaw is an ornament marked 

 with two cross-hatched disks, and from it a plaited band with disks and tassels 

 hangs down to the sandal. Near the top of the monument is a fourth grotesque head 

 or mask with serpents' heads on either side of it. 



The north face : — On the base of the pedestal is a large death's head, and above it 

 is a human head and bust with the hands placed over the breast-ornament and a head- 

 dress similar to that in the same position on the south pedestal. The right hand 

 of the principal figure is grasping a manikin sceptre, and the left hand is covered by 

 a tasselled shield. The tasselled disk upon the band round the arm (seen best on 

 Plate XXXIX., h) is ornamented with a glyph. The head-dress is much the same 

 as that on the north side, with the exception that the band, which comes from under 

 the ends of the breast-ornament of what I take to be the serpent-bird, is quite short 

 and ends in a grotesque head, shown in profile, just above the ears of the principal 

 figure. Standing on the top of this head is a small human figure (with a grotesque 

 head) with one arm passed round the band which it grasps in its hand. 



The graceful arrangement of the feather-work on the upper part of this monument 

 is well worthy of notice. 



* The small human face -which on Plate XXXIII. shows beneath the elbow of the principal figure is one 

 of the three faces which are so often found attached to the girdle, and does not, as appears at first sight, issue 

 from the open mouth of the snake. 



