INSCRIPTIONS OF THE GREAT PERIOD. 367 
is a panel of 10 glyph-blocks, or 20 for the entire text. On one side at c2 
there is a large inclusion of harder volcanic rock, but the loss of space which 
its presence here entails was compensated for by having 6 glyph-blocks 
instead of 5 in the last column, p. 
The text on Altar G, opens with the date 10 Ahau 8 Zac at a1, BI. Re- 
ferring to Goodman’s tables, it will be found that this date occurred in the 
Great Period at two places, 9.15.17.5.0 and 9.18.10.0.0. Because it ends 
not only a tun but also a hotun and lahuntun as well, the latter is probably 
the better reading of the two, although the other is entirely possible. 
This whole question of the dates on G;, G,, and G, is rather perplexing, 
and the points for and against the two sets of readings are presented below: 
Stylistically arranged, the sequence of these monuments is either G3, 
G,, and G, as followed here, or G2, G3, and Gi, that is G,, the largest and most 
elaborate, being the latest in both stylistic sequences. 
Chronologically considered, the sequence is either G:, G,, and G;, or 
G3, G., and G;. This much is practically certain, that the date of G; is 
g.17.0.0.0 13 Ahau 18 Cumhu, since we can hardly refuse to recognize 7 Ahau 
18 Pop and 13 Ahau 18 Cumhu, the only 4 glyphs on Gs, as other than the 
two consecutive hotun-endings, 9.16.15.0.0 7 Ahau 18 Pop and 9.17.0.0.0 13 
Ahau 18 Cumhu respectively. 
It will be remembered that we had two sets of possibilities here, namely: 
g.16.15.0.0 7 Ahau 18 Pop, and 9.19. 7.13.0 7 Ahau 18 Pop and 
9.17. 0.0.0 13 Ahau 18 Cumhu 9.19.12.13.0 13 Ahau 18 Cumhu 
But not only is the second in each case too late to be historically prob- 
able, but the first two end consecutive hotuns of the Long Count. These facts 
practically render certain the accuracy of the first set of readings for G3. 
Therefore, no matter what the dates of G, and G, may be, G; is 9.17.0.0.0 
13 Ahau 18 Cumhu. But we have just seen that on stylistic grounds G; 
could hardly have preceded G3. Not only is G, larger, but it is also more 
elaborate. Indeed, on stylistic grounds alone, it would seem that G, must be 
the latest of the three altars of this type, since it is the most highly developed. 
But the date of G3; is known to be 9.17.0.0.0 13 Ahau 18 Cumhu; therefore, 
since G, is almost certainly later, it can only have been 9.18.10.0.0 10 Ahau 
8 Zac; and if G, is 9.18.10.0.0 10 Ahau 8 Zac, there can be little doubt but 
that G, must be 9.18.5.0.0 4 Ahau 13 Ceh and not 9.15.12.5.0 4 Ahau 13 Ceh. 
Moreover, this is the only arrangement supported both by the chronological 
and stylistic evidence; for, based on the stylistic criteria, there were two 
possible sequences: G3, G,, and G,; or Gz, G3, and Gi, and of these only one, 
G;, G2, and G,, is common to both. 
While it is true that definite proof is wanting, the writer believes, in view 
of all the evidence, chronological as well as stylistic, that Altars W, G2, and 
G, record the hotun-endings 9.18.0.0.0 11 Ahau 18 Mac, 9.18.5.0.0 4 Ahau 
13 Ceh, and 9.18.10.0.0 10 Ahau 8 Zac, respectively, and that as such they 
are probably the latest monuments at Copan. 
