Palenque
The ruins of Palenque look out on a low coastal plain extending to the Gulf of Mexico about 130 km to the north of hills of Sierra Oriental de Chiapas. Located at the very eastern edge of the Rio Usumacinta Basin, the climate is warm and humid with an average annual precipitation of 2156 mm.
Surrounded by steaming jungle forests of mahogany, cedar, and sapodilla trees, the ancient stone ruins are the most architecturally impressive in all of Mesoamerica. Although the earliest occupation of the site dates to about 100 BCE, it becomes a major city center as late as 600 CE, with all construction at the site having stopped relatively abruptly by 800 CE.
One Mayan king, Pacal, took power in 603 CE at the age of 12 and ruled over Palenque for 68 years until his death in 683 CE. In 647 CE he ordered the construction of the Forgotten Temple located about a half a kilometre south of the Palace. Also constructed during this time was the Temple of the Count, as well as underground galleries beneath passages in the Palace. Stucco reliefs depict masks in murals and figures with well defined facial features on columns that share Pacal's royal lineage.
Pacal's remains were excavated and were found covered with jade ornaments and a face mask also made from jade. His body was buried in a stone tomb below the surface of the plaza above which was built the Pyramid of the Inscriptions. The tomb is accessible by a stairway from the top of the pyramid.
Chan-Balum, Pacal's eldest son, assumed power in 684 CE upon the death of his father and ruled for 18 years. He was responsible for the completion of the temple atop the Pyramid of the Inscriptions (which was modeled after the Forgotten Temple, in addition to a number of other sacred sites), and the Temple of the Sun. The panels on the rear interior walls of all these temples depict Chan-Balum and Pacal and display carved texts apparently intended to legitimize Chan-Balum's power.
Kan-Xul the younger son of Pacal succeeded his older brother in 702 CE at the age of 38 and ruled for 23 years. Kan-Xul may also been responsible for adding the tower to the Palace. This structure supported by wooden beams with an interior staircase is thought by some to have functioned as an observatory for viewing the stars.
Though the Maya continued to live at Palenque continues until about 800 CE, most of the presently visible ruins were constructed prior to the death of Kan-Xul making him the last great Mayan king.
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