PALENQUE. 



37 



The Two-headed Dragon. 

 (Plate XCII. figs. a,b,c; Plate XCIII. figs, a, c, d, e, i,j, n.) 



Three drawings on Plate XCII. and all those on Plate XCIII. are given in order to 

 call attention to two decorative motifs, the " Two-headed Dragon " and the " Water- 

 Plant," which appear to have been employed throughout the Maya area. Mention has 

 already been made of the " Two-headed Dragon " on pages 51 & 52, Vol. I., where the 

 particular marks attached to the short-nosed head were figured. 



These figures are here repeated for convenience of reference : — 



On Plate XCIII., figs, a & e from Copan and fig. d from Palenque show both heads 

 of the dragon. Figs, a, b, c on Plate XCII., and figs, c, i,j, n on Plate XCIII., show 

 the use of the " short-nosed head " as a detached ornament, as in Plate XCII. fig. b, 

 where it forms the base of the central design of the Temple of the Cross ; but it more 

 often occurs as part of a head-dress, as in fig. c, Plate XCII., and figs, c & j *, 

 Plate XCIII. 



The Water-Plant. (Plate XCIII. figs. b,f, g, h, I, m, o,p.) 



The "Water-Plant" appears to be the only vegetable form employed in Maya 

 decoration. The stem of the plant usually springs from a grotesque mask or face. 

 In fig. m, Plate XCIII., the leaves and flower-buds are very clearly drawn, and have 

 somewhat the appearance of those of a water-lily, but my reason for calling it a water- 

 plant is that in many of the examples a fish is to be seen apparently feeding on the 

 flower or on something connected with the flower. 



* See also Vol. I. Plate XCIX. fig./, and page 04, where auother part of the same head-dress is explained. 



