Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Stelae of the Gran Plaza
The path leads to the
Gran Plaza
(Great Plaza; Plaza de las Estelas) and the huge, intricately
carved stelae portraying the rulers of Copán. Most of Copán's best stelae date from AD
613 to 738. All seem to have originally been painted; a few traces of red paint survive on
Stela C. Many stelae had vaults beneath or beside them in which sacrifices and offerings
could be placed.
Many of the stelae on the Gran Plaza portray King 18 Rabbit, including stelae A, B, C,
D, F, H and 4. Perhaps the most beautiful stela in the Gran Plaza is Stela A (AD 731); the
original has been moved inside the Museo de Escultura, and the one outdoors is a repro-
duction. Nearby and almost equal in beauty are Stela 4 (731); Stela B (731), depicting 18
Rabbit upon his accession to the throne; and Stela C (782), with a turtle-shaped altar in
front. This last stela has figures on both sides. Stela E (614), erected on top of Estructura 1
(Structure 1) on the west side of the Great Plaza, is among the oldest.
At the northern end of the Gran Plaza at the base of Estructura 2, Stela D (736) also
portrays King 18 Rabbit. On its back are two columns of hieroglyphs; at its base is an al-
tar with fearsome representations of Chac, the rain god. In front of the altar is the burial
place of Dr John Owen, an archaeologist with an expedition from Harvard's Peabody Mu-
seum who died during excavation work in 1893.
On the east side of the plaza is Stela F (721), which has a more lyrical design than other
stelae here, with the robes of the main figure flowing around to the other side of the stone,
where there are glyphs. Altar G (800), showing twin serpent heads, is among the last
monuments carved at Copán. Stela H (730) may depict a queen or princess rather than a
king. Stela I (692), on the structure that runs along the east side of the plaza, is of a person
wearing a mask. Stela J, further off to the east, resembles the stelae of Quiriguá in that it is
covered in glyphs, not human figures.
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Juego de Pelota
South of the Great Plaza, across what is known as the Plaza Central, is the Juego de Pelota
(Ball Court; 731), the second largest in Central America. The one you see is the third one
on this site; the two smaller courts were buried by this construction. Note the macaw
heads carved atop the sloping walls. The central marker in the court is the work of King
18 Rabbit.
