" 15 - Stela A - Great Plaza

Perhaps the most popular stela in Copan, the elegant carving of Stela A is one of the best examples of the beautiful sculptural style for which Copan is understandably famous. Dedicated on 9.15.0.3.0.12 Ahaw 13 Mac or A.D. 731, it portrays the 13th ruler, "18 Rabbit," carrying a two-headed serpent bar that is symbolically giving birth to sun gods.

In his headdress is a woven mat design that has four serpents in its corners. This design is like the solar disk. It represents "18 Rabbit's" central position in relation to the sun and the four directions. Small figures that crouch at the feet and in the headdress of the ruler seem to represent the sun at different stages of its daily and yearly cycles. "