Is one of the most ornate stelae found at Copan. In it Waxaklajuun Ub'aah K'awiil is depicted as the Maize God with its full regalia, of special importance is the backrack that he carries on his back on it are different symbols that reinforce the fact that his regalia is related to the Maize God as well as other very important symbols for the Maya such as the different elements of sacrificial bloodletting, these elements give this stela a very important meaning explaining the processes of death and rebirth. This stela was not erected as a period ending commemorative stela, instead the date chosen was so that the placement of stars in the heavens matched those of stelae erected previously, Stela 3 and Stela C, by K'ak' Nab K'awiil, this date fell on December 5, 731 A.D.

This stela was carved in a unique style, the glyphs were set in a matt pattern, the symbol of royal power. It was commissioned by Waxaklajuun Ub'aah K'awiil in the year 702. On this monument were carved his ascension to the throne and that of his immediate predecessor Smoke-Imix-God K. The first section of the matt reads the date of dedication 9.13.0.0.0 and a link to 9.0.0.0.0 8 Ahau 13 Ceh date when Yax K'uk' Mo' held another ritual with “God K on hand”. A very important aspect of this stela that makes it one of the most particular of Copan is that it was placed at one end of the Sacbe or causeway leading to the Las Sepulturas residential zone, this combined with the matt design of the text, could signify to the ancient people that they were entering or departing the most important part of Copan.

 

 

 

This stela is located in front of the Hieroglyphic Stairway. It's in a very poor state of preservation. It portrays the face of the ruler that commissioned the stairway built, K'ak' Yipyaj Chan K'awiil. This representation of the ruler is dressed with full military outfit, as a testament of the content of the stairway at its back, a relation of the military prowess of his ancestors. Its style is more austere than that found in the earlier stelae by 18 Rabbit. Stela M is dated to 756 A.D.

 

Also commissioned by K'ak' Yipyaj Chan K'awiil, this stela along with Stela M where erected between the Ball Court and the Great Plaza, and they share similar carving style. It has been dated to 761 A.D.

 

 

 

 

One of the most popular stela to be visited by tourists in Copan, it is known that this stela was moved, on the 8 th century, to its present day location nearby Altar Q, on the West Court. It bears the portrait of Copan's 11 th ruler Butz' Chan. This stela is dated to 623 A.D.

 

We may also mention Stela 2, associated to the erection of Stela P. Stela 2 stood at the north end of the Ball Court, overlooking the playing alley. It bears a portrait of the 12th ruler, K'ak' Nab K'awiil. In this Stela his dressed in ritual attire to celebrate the completion of an important calendaric cycle or "period ending" in 9.11.0.0.0. This dedication date corresponds to A.D. 652, twenty-nine years after the erection of Stela P.

 


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