INSCRIPTIONS OF THE GREAT PERIOD. 289 
With the erection and dedication of Stela N, the Court of the Hiero- 
glyphic Stairway seems to have been completed, and the scene of building 
activity again shifted farther south to the Acropolis. The closing years 
of the city’s occupation were the most brilliant of all from an architectural 
point of view; and during the two katuns which followed Stela N, the 
Eastern and Western Courts were completed and the magnificent series of 
temples surrounding them were erected (see plate 6). 
Before proceeding with the description of the final phases of sculptural 
activity at Copan, however, it is first necessary to consider four altars of 
uncertain date found in or near the Court of the Hieroglyphic Stairway, 
namely, Altars L, B’, C’, and D’. 
ALTAR L. 
Provenance: On the extremity of the L-shaped extension on the 
north side of Mound ro of the Acropolis, Main Struc- 
ture. (See plate 6.) 
Date: g.16.11.0.5 2 Chicchan 3 Zip (?). 
Text, drawing: figure 43. 
Maudslay, 1889-1902, vol. 1, plate 73, D. 
References: Bowditch, 1910, table 29. 
Goodman, 1897, p. 132. 
Gordon, 1896, pp. 20, 41, 42. 
Maudslay, 1889-1902, vol. 1 of text, p. 54. 
Altar L was found on the western extremity of the L-shaped extension 
on the north side of Mound ito, at the Main Structure. It is 1.09 meters 
wide (1.e., between the plain faces), 1.13 meters deep (7.¢., between the 
sculptured faces), and 67 cm. high. Maudslay states (ibid., vol. 1 of text, 
p. 54) that it is carved on one side only, a drawing of which he figures (09. 
cit., plate 73, b); but Gordon found that two of the four faces were sculptured: 
““A drawing of this side (of Altar L) is given by Maudslay on plate 73; but he 
makes no mention of the opposite side, which is more weather-wgrn, but, retains 
the outlines of a similar design only partially executed. The other twWorsiddsdand 
the top are plain, which is unusual; and it is probable that the sides. at Lett were 
to be carved.””! Parr eer 
xf a iS 
A personal examination of the original convinced the writer that as it 
stands this altar is in an unfinished state. The subject on the completed 
face is two human figures, each sitting cross-legged on two glyphs with a 
column of three glyphs between them. These figures, while they resemble 
the earliest example of this type, 7. ¢., the small figure on Stela B? (see fig. 
36), in general posture and habiliments are nearer to those on the step in 
Temple 11, and Altars Q and T, having not only the same objects in their 
hands as the latter, but also the same grotesque heads for breast-plates, 
except in the case of Altar T. This stylistic resemblance is important, since, 

1 Gordon, 1896, pp. 41, 42. 
2 All of the figures of this type are very similar. All have large turban-like head-dresses and all bear the same 
object in their extended hands. mS 
