Lost Maya stela at Palenque?
Early explorers recorded a free standing stela at Palenque, that as far as I can determine, has since disappeared. John Lloyd Stephens recorded it as being near the foot of the Temple of the Cross.
1)Jean-Frédéric Waldeck visited Palenque in the early 1830s. He was a talented artist but with (from modern perspective) unfortunate love of adding details from his own imagination to his artwork. However as his depiction seems very similar to Catherwood's, Waldeck seems to have kept his vivid imagination in check for this illustration.
2) Engraving by Frederick Catherwood, from the 1840 visit with John Lloyd Stephens. Description by John Lloyd Stephens: "It is the only statue that has ever been found at Palenque. We were at once struck with its expression of serene repose and its strong resemblance to Egyptian statues, though in size it does not compare with the gigantic remains of Egypt. In height it is ten feet six inches, of which two feet six inches were under ground. The headdress is lofty and spreading; there are holes in the place of ears, which were perhaps adorned with earrings of gold and pearls. Round the neck is a necklace, and pressed against the breast by the right hand is an instrument apparently with teeth. The left hand rests on a hieroglyphic, from which descends some symbolical ornament. The lower part of the dress bears an unfortunate resemblance to the modern pantaloons, but the figure stands on what we have always considered a hieroglyphic, analogous again to the custom in Egypt of recording the name and office of the hero or other person represented. The sides are rounded, and the back is of rough stone. Probably it stood imbedded in a wall."
3) Lindesay Brine visited Palenque in 1869. While his illustration is of inferior quality, it further confirms the existence and general appearance of the monument. Brine's description: "The statue by my measurement, was a few inches more than eight feet in height, exclusive of the lower part of the stone, which tapered off in such a manner as to show that it had been originally placed upright and fixed in the ground. The feet stood on a base upon which was carved the hieroglyph which probably denoted the name. The forehead was low and straight. The face was completely different in type and expression, from that of any known race of Indians. The head was surmounted by a kind of high tiara. The left hand held in front of the figure a small head, in the same position as in the little figure at Ocosingo."
My questions: 1) Most importantly, What happened to this monument? 2) Is its existence recorded elsewhere? Charnay visited Palenque after Stephens & Catherwood and before Brine, bringing camera equipment and taking many photos, but if Charnay recorded this monument, I haven't found it.
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I just heard from David Stuart, who notes it not only still exists, but is in the Palenque site museum. Unfortunately it is now in much more eroded condition.
