The death mask of the most famous ancient Maya king
Recreation of the tomb and sarcophagus of K’inich Janaab’ Pakal, Palenque, Classic period, Maya culture, National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City
(Photo: Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
One of the most amazing archaeological discoveries of the 20th century was the tomb of Pakal, the most famous ancient Maya king known today. Pakal ruled over Palenque (in modern-day Chiapas, Mexico) in the 7th century, and he had his tomb constructed beneath the Temple of the Inscriptions. Inside the tomb was his massive sarcophagus.
Funerary Mask and jewelry of K’inich Janaab’ Pakal, Palenque, Maya culture, Classic period, National Museum of Anthropology
(Photo: Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Among the many amazing things discovered inside the tomb, Pakal's death mask is surely one of the most remarkable! It's made of pieces of bright green jade. Pakal remains eternally youthful and also transforms into the Maize God!
Watch to learn more about the jade death mask of the most famous ancient Maya king!
Learn more!
Check out our video page!
Read more about this incredible archaeological discovery and others!
Here is what the video covers:
0:00 Introduction to the ancient Maya kind, K'inich Janaab' Pakal of Palenque
0:33 Palenque (Lacamha') in Chiapas, Mexico and the Maya region
0:48 Pakal becomes a ruler (ajaw or ahua)
0:57 Maya city-states in the Classic Period
1:06 Pakal's transformation of Palenque, such as a palace and the Temple of the Inscriptions
1:37 Excavations at Palenque during the 1950s and the discovery of Pakal's tomb and sarcophagus
2:00 Constructing Pakal's tomb inside the Temple of the Inscriptions
2:24 Materials inside the sarcophagus, like cinnabar and jade
3:29 The mosaic death mask made in imperial jade
4:02 The symbolism of eternal life and wealth
4:42 Crafting jade objects
4:58 Jade heirlooms
5:20 Other associations of jade, including maize or corn and the Maize God
6:04 Divine kingship
