INSCRIPTIONS OF THE GREAT PERIOD. 377 
interior of which the fragment of Stela 21 was recovered. (See plate 3 and 
fig. 22,k,/, and n.) It is a small drum-shaped stone like Altar T’, 29 cm. 
high and 48 cm. in diameter. The top and bottom are plain, the periphery 
being inscribed with three glyphs. These are very badly weathered, but 
from what is left it is evident that each had a coefficient of 9, and that each 
was probably the same grotesque head as on Altar ‘TI’, whatever that may 
be. The similarity of these two altars in size, shape, and treatment is very 
close, and both doubtless may be referred to the Great Period. 
SHRINE R’, 
Provenance: On the hillside south of the Copan River, facing the Main 
Structure and slightly east of south from it. (Group 
7, see plate 3.) 
Date: The Great Period (1). 
Text, photograph: plate 28, d. 
Almost due south of the Main Structure, on the side of the hill which 
rises just beyond the river, there is an outcropping of the native rock in a 
ledge, perhaps 60 or 70 meters above the bed of the stream. Advantage has 
been taken of this stone in situ, to carve from it an elaborate shrine over- 
looking the valley, the central figure of which is a large and realistic toad. 
(See plate 28, d.) 
No previous reference to this shrine appears to have been made, and the 
writer only heard of it on his third visit to Copan in 1915. It can hardly 
have escaped the indefatigable labors of Gordon or Maudslay, however, 
although neither mentions it in his writings. From one end to the other it is 
6 meters long, and at the widest point about 3 meters wide. The height from 
the base of the altar at the front to the top of the last platform at the back 
is about I.5 meters. 
Facing the shrine, 7. ¢., with one’s back to the valley, there is an altar 
on the right, slightly in advance of the other parts. This is the shape of a 
truncated cone, being perfectly flat on top. It is 41 cm. high at the back, 
though somewhat higher in front, owing to the slope of the hillside, 2 meters 
in diameter at the base, and 91 cm. in diameter at the top. Its position with 
reference to the other figures, as well as its shape, probably indicates its use 
as an altar for burning incense at the shrine. It is asymmetrically placed 
with reference to the long axis of the shrine, being at one side. 
Just behind the altar is a large, rough rock only partially dressed. The 
back and right sides show plain dressed surfaces merging into the steps or 
seats carved out of the ledge to the right of the shrine. The front and left 
sides of this rock are rough. Opposed to this on the other side of the shrine 
at the front, and ina sense balancing it, there is another large unfinished rock. 
The center of the front is occupied by the large toad figured in plate 28, d, 
the most conspicuous feature of all. This is 1.07 meters long, 61 cm. high, 
and 61 cm. wide, and squats on a bench of dressed stone, lips parted, tongue 
protruding, eyes half closed, and throat enormously swollen. The ledge of 
