sign
seems to be connected with Caban=the Below, and the two figures with Cabal
heads are sculptured at each side of the alligator's tail which is the
part of least honor, not only according to Zuni etiquette, but also
according to Mexican ideas, the word for tail being employed,
metaphorically, for vassals.

To this description I would add that a careful study of the cast of this
monument in the South Kensington Museum, and of the illustrations in Mr.
Maudslay's work reveals that, of the four figures on the west side, one
only has a human head, whilst two have human bodies with animal heads and
one a semi-human face and the body of a bird. Of the four figures on the
east side, the first represents a man seated on a glyph, the second a
human body with an animal head and the third and fourth semi-animal, bird
and human figures. Amongst the recognizable animal forms represented, we
distinguish an ocelot, an unmistakable alligator's head and the head of a
monster with huge jaw and serrated teeth which strongly resembles the
Mexican sign Cipactli, a nondescript "marine monster." One detail is
worthy of special notice: the left hand of one of the figures on the east
side terminates in a serpent's head, in a fashion recalling that of the
Santa Lucia bas-reliefs.

The following resume will make the distribution of the figures and glyphs
on the altar quite clear. Top: outstretched alligator body, whose legs and
claws are sculptured over the corners of the altar. On each shoulder 1
figure with glyph=2. On each knee 2 figures=4, making a total of 6 figures
on the top. On east and west sides respectively, 4 figures; on north side
2 figures, on the south side 4 figures on composite glyphs=14. The total
number of figures on top and sides is 20, each of which is intimately
associated with a glyph. Under the snout of the alligator, on the south
side, there are 2x4=8 glyphs.

When carefully analyzed we ultimately find that the surface of the altar
exhibits in the first case two chieftains of equal rank, but respectively
seated on the right and left forelegs of the tribal totem. To my idea this
demonstrates that the dual rulership, such as existed elsewhere, prevailed
at Copan, and that two lords of the alligator tribe were entitled the
right and left forelegs or "arms" of the animal totem. It should be noted
here that the Maya name for alligator is chiuan or ain. The dictionaries
contain also the following names for the same or allie