THE FACE KT7MEBALS. 



51 



FACE SIGN FOR 17. 



The first of the above faces is from an initial date on a Quirigua stela, where there 

 can be no doubt of its value ; but unfortunately the photograph is too indistinct to be 

 quite certain if the akbal symbol appears at the top of the head or not. I think it 

 does, however, as the lower part of the glyph is unquestionably the death-face. The 

 other form is common in the Palenque texts, but it occurs in no position where its 

 value can be demonstrated beyond question. 



FACE SIGN FOR 18. 



The forehead ornament of the face sign for S and the skeleton jaw of that for 10 

 are constant characteristics of this symbol, hut it has likewise a broad curve behind 

 the eye — readily distinguishable, however, from the corkscrew curl of 11. I think this 

 is a conventionalized form of the dotted crescent sign for 18, as the dots are still 

 perceptible within the curve on the second glyph, which occurs in the initial date of 

 the Temple of the Cross, at Palenque. 



7* 



