INSCRIPTIONS OF THE MIDDLE PERIOD. 131 
“Now, it has already been pointed out that on the whole the stelz of Copan 
with human figures are remarkably homogeneous. The pose in all cases is essen- 
tially the same and the object carried in the arms is always the Ceremonial Bar. At 
other cities such homogeneity does not appear, since some figures are found in pro- 
file presentation and others in front view, while the Ceremonial Bar often gives way 
to the spear, the Manikin Scepter, etc. All the Copan stelz (with the exception 
of Stela 23, which I have not seen) show the human figure in a stiff, formal, and 
symmetrical front-view presentation, with the heels together, the Ceremonial Bar 
held across the breast in the two arms, and with the eyes looking straight ahead. 
“Details of dress, etc., are found upon closer analysis to vary considerably. 
Entire series of monuments are characterized by the practical repetition of certain 
complexes or arrangements of details, and in many instances, the finer criteria of 
sequence in style are based upon changes and developments within these complexes. 
To make the comparison in the present case more difficult, Stela 2 belongs to one 
series of monuments (18, 7, E, P, 2, and I), while Stela 3 may be placed in another 
series (3, 5,C, and 4). To be sure, the line of demarkation is not very clear and 
there are several similar features that bind Stele 3 and 5 to the former series. 
““Stela 2 is found to resemble Stela P and Stela 3 to resemble Stela I. Now, 
Stela P is dated 9.9.10.0.0 and Stela I is dated 9.12.5.0.0. These respective 
resemblances and differences might indicate, then, that Stela 2 was carved some- 
what earlier than Stela 3, since it inclines toward the earlier style. The lower half 
of Stela 2 is, in fact, almost a part-for-part copy of Stela P. In each we see a simi- 
lar object under the elbows, a girdle, and jaguar-skin skirt with much the same 
details, an apron of exactly the same type, and hanging down on either side of the 
body a twisted serpent from the mouth of which hangs a tassel-like detail. It is 
somewhat more difficult to compare Stele 3 and I, because the former has two 
human figures instead of one and these two figures are found to differ considerably 
from each other. In all cases, however, the object under the elbows is wanting 
and the girdle is extended upward to cover the space. The aprons are of vary- 
ing patterns and so can not be compared. The pendant objects at the sides of 
the body are much elaborated and modified, and as a result the surviving features 
of serpent heads can be made out with difficulty. 
““When we turn to the general proportions of the body, we find a very consid- 
erable difference between Stelz 2 and 3, with the former again belonging to the 
earlier style. In fact, in my first table of proportions (Spinden, 1913, p. 158), the 
proportions of Stela 2 are very close to those of Stela P, while those of Stela 3 seem 
to be even further advanced than Stela I toward the canon that ruled at Copan in 
the Great Period. To be sure, these measurements of Stela 3 are based on photo- 
graphs and the sculpture itself is so mutilated that the points can not be exactly 
determined. But the difference between the proportions of Stela 2 and 3 are obvi- 
ously great, especially in the length of the bust. Moreover, the relief is nearly twice 
as high. 
“Earlier in the discussion it was stated that Stela 3 may be placed in a series 
with Stele 5, C, and 4. The basis of this grouping is the feature of small human 
figures by the side of the head-dress in the upper corners. ‘These little figures hold 
Ceremonial Bars in their arms. ‘Supernumerary’ figures occur in several other 
instances without these Ceremonial Bars, the nearest approach to the style and 
arrangement of the series named above being seen in Stele FE and I. Now, the 
Ceremonial Bars carried in the arms of the small figures are all of the rigid type, 
which, as far as the principal figure is concerned, does not appear at Copan till 
Palks0.0-0; 
