THE MAYAN CIVILIZATION 77 
special markings of one of the greater gods. These 
panels, considered historically, pass through some inter- 
esting developments. Angular representations of ser- 
pent heads in profile are sometimes used at the sides of 
doorways. 
The supplementary monuments are stelee and altars. 
These are monolithic sculptures that are often set up 
in definite relation to a building either on the terraces 
Se ea el 
sera, ae sen Z 
foley 
Fig. 23. Mask Panel over Doorway at Xkichmook. Yucatan. 
or at the foot of the stairway. ‘The stele are great 
plinths or slabs of stone carved on one or more sides 
with the figures of priests and warriors loaded down 
with religious symbols. The altars are smaller stones 
usually placed in front of the stele. Many stele and 
altars are set up in plazas and have no definite archi- 
tectural quality. 
Minor Arts. While the richly ornamented temples 
and the great monoliths attract first attention as works 
of art, the humbler products of the potter, the weaver, 
and the lapidary also attained to grace and dignity. 
The Mayas were expert potters and employed a 
variety of technical processes in the decoration of their 
