150 THE INSCRIPTIONS AT COPAN. 
There is another period-ending on the side under discussion at G7-F9, 
figure 26, a, which is exceedingly important, noless than 4 Ahau 8 Cumhu End 
of Cycle 13, the starting-point of the Maya chronological system. So far as the 
writer knows, this unique date is found on only four other monuments in 
the Maya field: Stela C at Quirigua, Altar 1 at Piedras Negras, Stela J at 
Copan, and in the Temple of the Cross at Palenque. As recorded here, all is 
very clear but the Cycle 13 in F9, though the left-hand dot-and part of the 
middle dot and topmost bar may still be seen. Cycle 13 is again recorded 
on the front of this monument at B1, the second glyph in the horizontal band 
in the upper left-hand corner. GQ Concerning the unusual 
arrangement of the glyphs on ‘= \} the front, more will be 
said later. — | 
One other date 
remains to be de- scribed. ‘Thepreliminary inspection would 
indicate the reading 8 fror2 Yaxkin. Ifthe month coefficient 
is 2, the day-sign must be either Kan, Muluc, Ix, or Cauac. A comparison 
of H4, however, with all the known variants of these days shows that it has 
not the slightest resemblance to any of them, and we are forced to conclude 
either that this is an entirely new variant of one of them, or else the month 
coefficient in 14 is not 2. The latter is the better explanation of the matter. 
The day-sign, while it bears no resemblance to any of the known forms 
for Kan, Muluc, Ix, and Cauac, has on the other hand a very strong resem- 
blance to an unusual variant of Lamat, which, so far as the writer knows, 
occurs only here at Copan and once at Palenque. (See figure 39.) 
This variant appears to be the same as the sign for the planet Venus, or 
rather one-half of that sign,! which may indicate some ceremonial connection 
between Lamat and that planet. At all events, half of the Venus-sign appears 
to have been used also as a sign for Lamat.2 But Lamat can only have a 
corresponding month coefficient of 1, 6, 11, or 16, and it is therefore appar- 
ent that the coefficient of Yaxkin in H4 must be 1 instead of 2.° 



1The complete sign for the planet Venus (>) is bilaterally symmetrical with reference both to the verti- 
cal and horizontal axes of the glyph. Half of +5 the sign (<) ©) however, is frequently used as a sub- 
stitute, both in the inscriptions and in the codices. In pp. 46-50 of the Dresden Codex, 
where the Venus-solar period is set forth, (0) ‘o) the two signs appear side by side, in identical 
relations. Indeed, the use of but half of the sign for the whole would appear to have been due to the 
desire for brevity rather than as indicating any corresponding change of meaning. 
2The other examples of the use of this variant for Lamat are: 
Stela J, east side, Glyph 325 (Maudslay’s numeration), see p. 203, and figure 39, b. 
Hier. steps south side Mound 2. Gz (plate 26, g), see p. 234 and figure 39, c. 
Hier. Stairway west side Mound 26. Date 2. sa, see p. 243 and figure 39, f. 
Hier. Stairway west side Mound 26. Date 3. pd, see p. 244 and figure 39, g. 
Hier. Stairway west side Mound 26. Date 24. Fragment 6 (plate 27), see p. 259 and figure 39, h. 
Hier. Stairway west side Mound 26. ca (Gordon, 1902, plate 13 D), see p. 265 and figure 39, e. 
. Palenque, Palace Group, House C, Stairway. Maudslay (1889-1902, vol. tv, plate 23, B61. h.), and also 
figure 39, a. 
It will be noted that two-thirds of these examples are from the Hieroglyphic Stairway of Mound 26. Another 
connection between the Venus-sign and the day Lamat, although not a direct use of the former for the latter, is 
seen on Altar K (see p. 185), where the variable element in the Initial Series introducing glyph is the Venus-sign 
and the day of the Initial Series terminal date is Lamat. ; 
3As drawn in figure 26, c, the coefficient of Yaxkin looks as much like 2 as 1, but a final examination of the 
original in 1917 convinced the writer that either 1 or 2 is equally possible here, the original having one large, 
plain, round dot, inadequately drawn in the text above, between two smaller ones, also plain. 
SNS An FW WH 

