Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Farther south from the Great Plaza is the Hieroglyphic Stairway, which rises up the south-
east corner of the plaza up the side of the neighboring Acropolis. The impressive structure,
now covered with a roof for protection from the elements, contains 2,500 glyphs on its
72 steps and is the longest known hieroglyphic inscription found anywhere in the Mayan
world. Commissioned in A.D. 753 by Smoke Shell, its substandard construction was evid-
ent in that it collapsed and was found by archaeologists as a jumbled mess, which they re-
assembled in 1940. Only about 15 steps, primarily on the bottom section, are thought to be
in the correct order. Archaeologists are working on getting the correct order and decipher-
ing the long message encoded on the steps. Its construction came at a time when Copán's
rulers were attempting to once again instill confidence in their city's power and glorious
history after the gruesome death of 18 Rabbit at the hands of neighboring Quiriguá.
At the base of the Hieroglyphic Stairway is
Stela M
(A.D. 756), with a figure presumed
to be Smoke Shell dressed in a feathered cloak along with glyphs telling of a solar eclipse
inthatyear.Analtarinfrontdepictsafeatheredserpentwithahumanheademanatingfrom
its jaws.
Copán's Great Plaza seen from the Acropolis
