EL TEMPLO DE LAS INSCRIPCIONES
Visit of an esplanade that includes three temples built in a row in Palenque
Entering the site, one first passes a building still buried under the jungle and then accesses a first esplanade that includes three temples built in a row: on the right, the building of the Calavera is the oldest; then follows the Temple XIII, known to have housed the tomb and treasures of the Reina Roja.
On the far left, the Temple of the Inscriptions is the highest pyramid on the site. It owes its name to the three large stone panels covered with glyphs that decorated the main room: they mention various events of the reign of K'inich Janaab' Pakal and also provide curious information about past and future events in the year 4772.
In 1949, the Mexican archaeologist Alberto Ruz Lhuillier explored for the first time the interior of the Temple of Inscriptions and three years later uncovered the burial chamber of King Pakal, located 25 meters below the base of the temple. At its center is still his monolithic sarcophagus of limestone, entirely engraved and decorated; the whole was originally covered with cinnabar, a vermilion pigment obtained by grinding the stone of the same name. Initially open to the public, access to the tomb was closed to prevent its deterioration. However, you can see a beautiful replica of the tomb and the skeleton adorned with jewels and a jade mask at the Palenque site museum. The original mask is in the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City.
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Members' reviews on EL TEMPLO DE LAS INSCRIPCIONES
D'autant que la possibilité de le gravir permet de ressentir à la fois le travail fourni pour la construction et l'aspect spirituel du site.
Admiration pour les hommes qui ont travaillé ces pierres.