234 THE INSCRIPTIONS AT COPAN. 
glyphs. The upper and shorter one of the two is 1.52 meters long and 30 cm. 
high and is the more effaced. It has two parallel rows of 11 glyph-blocks each, 
or 22 for the entire step. The seventh and eighth glyph- blocks 1 in the lower 
band, G2, 2, record the following Calendar Round date: 
The day decipae: is surely either 1, 2, or 3, and since the 
lower dot is probably ornamental, 1 appears to be the best 
reading. The day-sign closely resembles the day-sign in glyph 27 on the 
east side of Stela J; indeed the two appear identical. But Glyph 27 
on Stela J was proved by calculation to be Lamat; moreover, this same 
variant for Lamat has been found elsewhere; and we may therefore accept 
this value for it here. This makes the date recorded in G2, H2 probably 1 
Lamat 16 Zotz; although 2 and 3 Lamat 16 Zotz are possibilities. Before 
attempting to fix this date in the Long Count, let us first examine the 
inscription on the lower step. The latter is not only longer but also shows an 
entirely different arrangement of glyphs. It 1s 1.78 meters long and 25 cm. 
high, and instead of having two horizontal rows there is only one, and 
instead of 22 glyph-blocks there are only 8. 
The first glyph, L, although partially effaced, is clearly the Initial 
Series introducing glyph. ‘This is followed in md, n not by an Initial Series 
number, but by a Calendar Round date: (OS It is apparent 
at the outset that we have here a very CE, unusual condi- 
tion, namely, an Initial Series introducing @xe3 (ZY) glyph, not fol- 
lowed by a corresponding Initial Series number. mb is clearly a day-sign 
(note the day-sign cartouche and tripod support), and a close examination 
shows that it is the grotesque head variant of the day Ahau.t’ The month- 
sign is at ND and is clearly Xul, both the wing subfix and small-eyed animal- 
head, characteristic of this month-sign, being unmistakable. Since the day- 
sign is Ahau, the coefficient of the month-sign must be either 3, 8, 13, or 18. 
Na appears to be either 3 or 8, that is, there is no fleshless lower jaw, and the 
last two values, 13 and 18, are therefore out of the question. 
The day-sign coefficient is either to the left of the day-sign, in which 
case it is the bird head in ma, and in that event is best as 13; or it is above, 
in which case it is either I, 2, or 3, with by far the best reading at 1. That 
it is to be found in the latter position seems probable for the following reason: 
The bird-like head in ma very closely resembles the head-variant for the 
katun-sign, the hook-like nose and the mouth-curl, both especially charac- 
teristic of the katun-sign, being present. Above this head there is room 
for a rather high coefficient, probably above 10 but below 16. 
For these three glyph-blocks, the writer suggests the following reading: 
Initial Series introducing glyph, Katun 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15, I, 2, or 3 Ahau 3 or 8 Xul. 




Assuming that the end of some even tun of one of these five katuns is 
recorded here, it will be found by referring to Goodman’s tables that the 



1 For different forms of the day Ahau; see Bowditch, 1910, plate 6; Morley, 1915, figure 16, e’-k’; and 
Appendix X. 
2 See Bowditch, 1910, plate 12, particularly Nos. 2, 4-10, and 16-20. 
