286 THE INSCRIPTIONS AT COPAN. 
remaining band on the north side appears to begin with the day Kan, but 
neither its coefficient nor the corresponding month-sign can be found. 
These two dates and the number are at the back of the monument, that 
is, on the two corners nearest Mound 11. This was probably due to the 
fact that as one faces the monument (7. ¢., looking south) both the east and 
west bands will appear as vertical columns. Moreover, the first glyphs in 
both, i.¢., the southernmost in each band, are alike, and different from any 
others in the text. £2 Indeed, they are probably not glyphs at all, only 
formal decorative —-| elements with which the two vertical bands of the 
inscription begin. 
Facing the monument, then, this text would appear to commence at the 
top of the eastern band, the first two glyphs of which are 6 ? 3 Yaxkin, all 
being certain but the day-sign, which is a grotesque head. (See figure 
42.) Unfortunately, each of the four day-signs possible here—Ahau, Chic- 
chan, Oc, and Men—may be represented by a grotesque head, and our 
preliminary inspection therefore gives us little help. There are no other 
calendric glyphs on this side. 
The question at once arises, what could this date have been. Filling 
in the four possible values of the day-sign, it will be found by referring to 
Goodman’s tables that the four resulting dates occurred in Cycle 9 nearest 
the date of the accompanying stela, N, as follows: 
9.15. 6:16. 46,- 6 Chicchan' 4" Yaxkin 
9.76. 0. 1.10 - 6.0c 3 Yaxkin 
9.16.13. 4.15 6 Men 3 Yaxkin 
9.17. 6. 8.0 6 Ahau 3 Yaxkin 
Since the third is nearest to the date of Stela N, a priori it would be 
considered the best of these four readings, but leaving this question unde- 
termined for the present, let us continue the examination of our text. 
Facing the monument, the right column of glyphs, the west band, would 
seem to be the next in order. This starts with the same ornamental glyph 
as the east band, and then follows a head-variant period-glyph, the tun-sign, 
with two coefficients 1, 2, or 3 to the left and 6, 7, or 8 above. (See figure 42.) 
‘he remaining glyphs in the western panel are noncalendric. 
Passing on to the south band, it will be found to begin with a date 11? 
13 Pop, the day-sign again not being clear. In Gordon’s drawing (1902, 
figure 23) this is shown as an animal’s head, while in Maudslay’s drawing 
(1889-1902, vol. 1, plate 83) the head is grotesque. The writer’s drawing of 
figure 42, shows that it is a grotesque head and may either be Chicchan, Oc, 
Men, or Ahau. ‘Taking each in turn, it will be found by referring to Good- 
man’s tables that the four dates possible here occurred in Cycle 9 nearest 
the date of Stela N, as follows: 
9.15: 4.10. 080. hl MICCUaAn oar 
R151 71300 Sei Oeagsrep 
9.16.10.16.15 11 Men 13 Pop 
9.17: 4. 280° )apAhail 14 aroun 
