Very scenic place, which is why it is attracted to scholars as well

Calakmul conquered it in 599

A. Location
Located in the Western Area of the Maya region
Somewhat excluded from Maya region; possible contact with other cultures
and Mesoamerican civilizations
Classic Maya site
goes through decentralization and collapses earlier than other sites
1. late 8th century
A lot of the site is covered by forestry; used to be called "Wide Waters"
1. because of the streams and falls around the site; mini waterfalls
Was mapped much later than when it was studied
B. Review of Palenque's Exploration
1st Maya ruin ever to be documented and reported (1787) (Antonio Del Rio)
1. Published much later in London in
1822
Catherwood's drawings: drew from memory; his work with Stevens captured
the media and got the attention on many people; speculative information
1. unlike Copan, focused on the really well preserved architecture (interiors and
exteriors).
2. Strange imagery and many inscriptions with very well preserved texts; although
some of it was collapsed, archaeology allowed it to fix it
C. The Palace
Explorable ruins; you can actually walk in to buildings
Consists of multiple Houses (House A, House B, House C, House D, )
Cotton curtains; paintings on the walls,
Effect of tourism: bad
House E
1. Carved tablet in the back of the house (Oval Palace Tablet)
There used to be a throne in front of the oval tablet, which was
demolished by Del Rio.
Kinich Janab Pakal: March 26, 603, Crowned: July 29, 615, Died:
August 31, 683
Majority of buildings built by Pakal
Pakal defeated some of his enemies; basically the allies of Calakmul
1. This leads to tribute, slave labor, wealth= construction of palace, other
architectural sites
Throne of Pakal found in the basement
Tablet of the 96 Glyphs
1. Found in 1936; old excavators smashed it up
2. Why is it important?
Gives later history of Palenque with dates and Pakal dedicating House E as
well as his sons and grandsons being enthroned
Ends by saying Pakal witnessed the crowning of his grandson as an ancestor;
his spirit lives on forever
D. The Temple of the Inscriptions
The floor is very special for its uniqueness; signifies importance
Tablet
1. Talks about 3 Gods and Pakal and ancestors throughout
Sky, Heaven, Earth
Pakal held multiple ceremonies when honoring the Gods- G1, G2, G3
Maya architecture was very precise and good; great way to set up a royal tomb
Royal Tomb
1. Ruz thought it was an altar at first; 1950s
2. Text surrounds the lid; images of pakal's mother and pakal
3. Plaster heads found, which show life masks or portraits of Pakal
4. The lid has an image of Pakal reclining; descending to death to join his
ancestors
5. Upon the lid he is shown as an infant maize god
6. Pakal
Similar to Yax Kuk Mo of Copan
Dominated the scene of Palenque
Remembered as grandfather and laid the foundation for the kingdom
Kinich Kan Bahlam
1. Son of Pakal; Born May 23, 635; Crowned
E. The Three Temples of the Cross Group
All of them dedicated at the same time to the Gods- G1, G2, G3
697 dedication
Cross, Sun, Foliated Cross
Double Portraits of Kan Bahlam; the same person at different ages and he is
honoring himself as well as the Gods; depicts a ritual where he was most
likely claimed heir and next in line for king
Temple of the cross is about ancestry and heavens
foliated- is about maize, and agriculture and fertility, water-mountain
sun is about caves of the underworld and war, earth interior