DESCRIPTION OF THE SITE. II 
considerable importance. Temple 21a has the date 9.17.0.0.0 inscribed on 
the riser of the step leading into its sanctuary, the same date as that on the 
reviewing stand in the Western Court. Temples 21 and 21a were excavated 
by Saville in 1891-1892! and Temple 20 by Maudslay in 1885.” 
Maudslay found traces of a building along the east side of this court, 
most of which has now fallen into the river (see plate 6), and at its southern 
end there is a raised foundation which had supported another temple, No. 
18. The latter must have been of considerable importance, as excavation 
disclosed a large number of sculptured fragments lying in its corridors. (See 
also pp. 371, 372.) 
On the remaining side of the Eastern Court rises the Jaguar Stairway, 
leading to the terrace between the Eastern and Western Courts. Maudslay 
gives a partial restoration of this stairway, which seems to have been of 
graceful proportions and effective decoration.‘ 
Galindo excavated a tomb at the eastern side of this court, just in front 
of the mouth of the drain leading down through the foundations of Temple 19. 
It contained more than fifty red earthenware dishes and pots (many filled 
with human bones packed in lime), several sharp-edged obsidian knives, and 
three small human heads carved out of jadeite or nephrite. The latter were 
perforated at the backs for use as pendants.° 
The number and magnificence of the temples and other buildings sur- 
rounding this court clearly indicate that it was the center of the religious life 
of the city, relatively as important to the people of Copan as the Acropolis to 
the Athenians or Solomon’s Temple to the Children of Israel. 
Along the southern side of the Acropolis is a lower terrace with several 
less important structures. 
Standing on the lofty summit of this massive accretion, probably the 
growth of nearly two centuries, the city spreads before one in bird’s-eye 
presentation. Some little distance to the north s the Great Plaza with its 
many monuments, the largest gathering-place in the city. (See plate 7, dD.) 
Nearer is the somewhat less well-defined Middle Court, with the long building 
6 on its western side and Stela 3 in the middle. Still nearer, against the 
northern base of the Acropolis, is the Court of the Hieroglyphic Stairway, 
already described. To the west, for 2 kilometers, stretches a long succession 
of pyramids, platforms, and mounds, the remains of stone buildings. (See 
plate 2,4.) Indeed, these extend far beyond the modern village, which itself 
is built on the site of an important earlier group (No. 9). Finally, to the 
south and east the plain is covered with the remains of stone structures 
extending to the sides of the valley, which are somewhat nearer in these 
directions. (See plate 4.) 
1Gordon, 1896, pp. 17-19. 
2Maudslay, 1889-1902, vol. 1 of text, pp. 26, 27. 
SIbid., p. 26. 
*Tbids) pp-417; 129. 
5Galindo, 1834, Appendix XI, p. 596, and 18354, pp. 547, 548. 
