86 MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA 
foot to fill a rectangular space over which the conqueror 
stands. ‘The rulers and priests are hard to distinguish 
from each other, perhaps because the government was 
largely theocratic and the ruler was looked upon as the 
spokesman of divinity. ‘The spear and shield of war 
served to mark off certain human beings from others 
who carry religious objects such as the Ceremonial Bar 
and the Manikin Scepter. 
Elaborate thrones are shown on several monuments— 
thrones canopied by the arched body of the Two-headed 
Dragon that bears symbols of the planets. Over all is 
seen the great Serpent Bird with outstretched wings. 
Upon the throne is seated a human being who may 
safely be called a king and a line of footprints on the 
front of the throne may symbolize ascent. On other 
monuments the commanding personage wears the mask 
of a god and wields a club to subdue or scatters grain to 
placate. On the great majority of monuments the 
human beings, richly attired in ceremonial regalia and 
carrying a variety of objects, possibly present the great 
warriors and priests of the day. Many of the early 
sculptures are stiff and formal, but in a number of in- 
stances the quality of actual portraiture is convincing. 
Design Composition and Perspective. It is 
difficult to compare directly the graphic and plastic 
arts of different nations where the subject matter is 
diverse unless we compare them in accordance with 
absolute principles of design, composition, and perspec- 
tive drawing. ‘The Mayas produced one of the few 
really great and coherent expressions of beauty so far 
given to the world and their influence in America was 
historically as important as was that of the Greeks 
in Europe. Set as we are in the matrix of our own 
religious and artistic conventions, we find it difficult to 
