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In a striking parallel to the "arrival" of the Teotihuacanos at Tikal, hieroglyphics expert David Stuart has pointed out that the Copán founder is also said to have "arrived". In this passage from the text of Altar Q, K'inich Yax K'uk' Mo' takes the k'awiil, an expression used elsewhere for accession to office. The next glyph block has a distinctive crossed-bands sign, together with glyphs for te', "tree" and naah, "structure". Possibly translated "Root House", this seems to be a Teotihuacan-associated building connected with the founding of dynasties.

The glyph on the left reads 'u ch'am k'awiil, "he took the k'awiil," a snake footed-deity associated with kingship. Photo: Joel Skidmore.