226 THE INSCRIPTIONS AT COPAN. 
Spinden, in describing the latter, states: 
“In style the principal figure like Stele Aand D . . . . grotesque face occupies 
entire back of stela. Head-dress of principal figure a turban... . feet turned 
at slightly less than 180°, hence the sculpture later than Stela A.” 
Indeed, some of the carving on Stela B amounts to sculpture in the 
round, the macaw-beaks mentioned above standing quite free from the body 
of the monument. | 
Stele A and B were doubtless erected at the same time, although it is 
quite possible, in fact likely, that the latter, because of its technical superior- 
ity, was carved after the former. 
Catherwood’s drawing of the text on the north side of this monument, 
made in 1839, is so accurate that it is possible to read the date from it.” 
When it is taken into consideration that the Maya hieroglyphic writing was a 
sealed book at the time he visited Copan, and that he knew nothing about 
the subject-matter of the glyphs he drew, such accuracy is remarkable. It is 
also possible to read his drawing of the Initial Series on Stela D.’ 
ALTAR S. 
Provenance: On the summit of the pyramid (Mound 29, Maudslay’s 
numeration) at the southeast corner of the village 
plaza (Group 9). (See plate 3 and figure 22, /.) 
Date: 9.15.0.0.0 4:Ahaui3/Yaxs 
Text, (a) photograph: plate 24, D. 
(b) drawing: Maudslay, 1889-1902, vol. 1, plate 94. 
Morley, 1915, figure 81. 
References: Bowditch, 1910, pp. 95-97, 128, 129, 179, and table 29. 
Goodman, 1897, p. 134. 
Maudslay, 1889-1902, vol. 1 of text, p. 60. 
Morley, 1915, pp. 231-233. 
Seler, 1902-1908, vol. 1, pp. 753, 754. 
Spinden, 1913, table 1. 
Thomas, 1900, pp. 788, 802. 
Altar S was found by Maudslay on the summit of the pyramid at the 
southeast corner of the plaza of the modern village (Group 9). (See figure 
22,/.) The Peabody Museum photographs also show that this was its original 
position. Subsequently it was removed to the cabildo on the west side of the 
plaza, and it is now in the museum there. It is a rectangular block of stone 
about 1 meter long, 76 cm. wide, and 38 cm. high. The top is sculptured with a 
seated human figure holding some object in its extended right hand, the four 
sides being covered with glyphs, three glyph-blocks on each of the long sides 
and two on each of the short sides, a total of 10 for the entire text. 
The Initial Series commences on one of the long sides and is concluded 
on the adjacent side to the right. (See plate 24, b.) The date recorded is very 
clearly 9.15.0.0.0 4 Ahau 13 Yax, as shown at top of next page. 


1 See Spinden, 1913, table r. 
2 Stephens, 1841, vol. 1, last plate between pp. 156 and 157. 
3 [bid., plate facing p. 153. 
4 For other monuments 1ecording this same hotun-ending, see Appendix VIII. 
