After visiting the Acropolis in the West Court, we walked back through the Court of the Hieroglyphic Staircase to Temple IX and Stela I (“1”).  Stela I features a figure wearing an unusual turban headdress.  I have not seen many Mayan stelae featuring this type of headdress.  The stela’s back and sides feature long rows of glyphs (text).  A pretty beat up altar sits in front of Stela I; I do not recall seeing a name for the altar.  The stela’s front side looked pretty beat up, like the archaeologists had to repair the stela’s feet and lower legs.  I mainly just felt that the stela was unusual for the Mayans.

According to SCRIBES, WARRIORS AND KINGS: The City of Copan and the Ancient Maya, by William L. Fash, published by Thames and Hudson Limited London, Copyright 1991 and 2001, ISBN 0-500-28282-X, page 80, the Mayans carved Stela I (“1”) during Ruler 12’s, K’ak’ Uti’ Ha’ K’awil (“Fire is the Mouth of the Water Serpent”), reign (628-695 A.D.).