THE TEMPLE OF THE INSCRIPTIONS-THE TOMB OF KING PACAL

Palenque is perhaps one of the most mystical of Maya archeological sites.This ancient Maya site is located at the western frontier of the lowland Maya region.

Let's go through the  Temple of the Inscriptions in 3D reality

( Adobe Atmosphere plugin will be installed automaticaly )

jade mask
The central plaza of Palenque Palenque represents the western regional variant of Classic Maya civilization. Although the earliest occupation of the site dates to about 100 BC, it becomes a major population center only at about 600 AD and all construction at the site has ceased by about 800 AD. The ruins now visible are the heavily restored remains of the ceremonial center  of a more extensive settlement bordered by agricultural fields. 
Dominating the scene of Palenque is the Temple of the Inscriptions, the most impressive memorial to a single person in all of ancient America. It was built by the king whose monument it was to become - K'inich Janaab' Pakal ("Pacal the Great"). His body was interred under the temple pyramid in the most grandiose crypt and sarcophagus known outside ancient Egypt. A cut-away drawing of the front elevation of the structure shows the first building phase at the time of K'inich Janaab' Pakal's reign

On the southern edge of the central plaza of Palenque, set against a steep limestone hill, the Temple of the Inscriptions held a remarkable secret for centuries.
In 1948, Alberto Ruz investigated four curious stone plugs in the floor of the temple and discovered a secret passage filled with rubble. It took four long seasons to remove the rubble from the steep and slippery stairway that came to a landing then changed directions and continued on for 80 feet below the temple floor .
Behind a triangular slab door, Ruz made a discovery that would change the world's view of Maya pyramids -- an amazing stone chamber that housed an elaborately carved sarcophagus and the remains of a royal person along with a multitude of jade and other artifacts. It was not until epigraphers learned to decipher the glyphs on the sarcophagus and the inscriptions in the temple above that these remains could be identified as Hanab Pacal.

King Pacal was born in the year 603 A.D. and is said to have reigned for 67 years until his death at the age of 80

Let's go through the  Temple of the Inscriptions in 3D reality                             Dovnloading the ZIPed version  
( Adobe Atmosphere plugin will be installed automaticaly )
 TOPlist                          The world  of Ancient  Mayas in  virtual reality (home page)