INSCRIPTIONS OF THE MIDDLE PERIOD. I4I 
The reason for this departure from the regular practice would appear to 
have been due to the presence of this inclusion, which would have seriously 
distorted the proportions of a head facing to the left. As arranged here, 
however, the inclusion may conceivably be a part of the ear-plug; in short, 
it has directly coerced the arrangement of the subject-matter. 
Stela 2 is the first monument since Stela P which represents the human 
figure, and it is interesting to note in this connection that in the 25 or 30 
years which elapsed since the erection of the latter little progress had been 
achieved in handling this difficult subject. Says Spinden, in describing this 
monument: 
“Stela 2 is another slender stela, although the slenderness 1s not so marked 
as in the preceding one (Stela P). The body maintains the same pose except that 
the forearms are not held nearly so vertical.!’ The details of dress are remarkably 
similar, although in general somewhat more complicated. ‘The torso is broader and 
the legs shorter and more muscular. ‘The relief is somewhat higher than on Stela 
P, but is hardly less angular. Both of these stel# show the outlines of the shoulders 
and waist clearly.’’” 
STELA, 10; 
Provenance: On the summit of a hill 4.5 kilometers west of the Main 
Structure at Group 12, 228 meters above the level 
of the Great Plaza.’ (See plate 3.) 
Date: g.10.19.13.0 3 Ahau 8 Yaxkin. 
Text, drawing: plate 15, a. 
Maudslay, 1889-1902, vol. 1, plate 111. 
References: Galindo, 1834, Appendix XI, p. 599. 
Galindo, 18354, pp. 548, 549. 
Gordon, 1896, p. 29. 
Maudslay, 1889-1902, vol. 1 of text, pp. 16, 68. 
Spinden, 1913, pp. 160, 164, and table 1. 
Stela ro lies flat on the ground on the summit of a hill about 4.5 kilometers 
west of the Main Structure, at Group 12, 228 meters above the level of the 
Great Plaza, and commands a beautiful view of the valley. The crest of the 
hill has been leveled off, and a retaining-wall of rough-laid stones built 
along the edges makes a sort of platform of the top. The monument is 2.98 
meters long, 66 cm. wide, and 43 cm. thick. All four sides are covered with 
glyphs, in which respect it belongs to the same class, 3, as Stele 20, 15, 
21, 9, and 12. It was painted red, and much of the coloring matter still 
adheres to the surface of the stone; hence the name Piedra Pintada, by 
which the monument is known locally. It was first reported by Galindo. 
There is an Initial Series introducing glyph on the north side, a1,‘ followed 
by an Initial Series at a2a—a4a, a9. Unfortunately the top glyph on the 

1The position of the forearms of the human figures on the Copan stele is one of the surest criteria of age. 
In the earlier stela showing the human figure the forearm is held almost vertical, later it gradually drops until as 
here it is less than 45° with the horizontal. _ Finally, in the Great Period, it is held horizontally in a perfectly natural 
and easy position. See Spinden, 1913, p. 24. 
2 Spinden, 1913, p. 157. 
3This elevation was taken from Gordon’s unpublished notes in the Peabody Museum. 
4The opening glyph in Maudslay’s drawing (1889-1902, vol. 1, pl. 111). 
