One of the most amazing archaeological discoveries of the 20th century was the tomb of Pakal, the most famous ancient Maya king known today.

Learn more about Pakal and Palenque

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.

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!

Main artwork:

1. Mask of Pakal, c. 683 CE, jadeite, shell, and obsidian from the tomb of K'inich Janaab' Pakal, Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico (National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City)

National Learning Standards

World History

NSS-WH.5-12.4 ERA 4: EXPANDING ZONES OF EXCHANGE AND ENCOUNTER, 300-1000 CE

Video Transcript

Hello, fellow adventurers. I’m Lauren, and today, we're going to explore the incredible story of K'inich Janaab Pakal, probably the most famous ancient Maya ruler known today whose tomb at Palenque is a literal treasure trove. Let's dive into this captivating journey!

Meet a very youthful-looking K'inich Janaab Pakal, who ruled the ancient Maya city of Palenque in the 7th century. First things first, Palenque, or 'Lakamha' in ancient times, is nestled on the mountains in Chiapas, Mexico. Before Pakal came along, Palenque wasn't that big or powerful, and things were pretty chaotic. Then, a 12-year-old Pakal became the ruler, or what the Maya called ajaw, and boy, did he change the city’s history! The Maya were not unified, but instead there were a bunch of different powerful centers or cities that all fought for power and control. 

During his long rule, he transformed the city with some major building projects. He even built a luxurious palace and a temple that would later become his final resting place, known as the Temple of the Inscriptions.

Now, here's where it gets really exciting! On August 28, 683 CE, K'inich Janaab Pakal passed away at Palenque. He was over 81 years old when he left this world. In fact, he's one of the longest-lived rulers in world history!

Fast forward to the 1950s when archaeologists discovered Pakal's tomb. First, they found an 80-foot-long stairway filled with rubble. That portrait of Pakal I showed you earlier was actually found deep down in the rubble. After years of digging, they found an enormous sarcophagus. It’s a single piece of limestone that’s super heavy. The people who constructed this tomb actually carved the burial chamber into bedrock, then placed the sarcophagus in it—and THEN built the temple around it. That 80-foot tunnel connected the burial chamber to the shrine on the top of the temple. Pakal was such a planner! The sarcophagus has really intriguing decorations, but that's a story for another day.

Inside this stone 'coffin' was Pakal's body. He was a tall guy, standing at 5 feet 8 inches, which was big for his time. His body was all covered in red cinnabar, which was a special, toxic red substance reserved for royal burials. It was believed to keep his body fresh for the afterlife. It also symbolized the rising sun and rebirth. 

But wait, there's more! Inside the tomb, there was a special spirit tube that connected it to the top of the pyramid. It allowed fresh air and, they believed, the king's spirit to flow freely.  That's pretty amazing, right?

What truly sets Pakal's tomb apart besides the massive sarcophagus is the incredible amount of jade found inside.  All this jade was supposed to help him in the afterlife. He was covered with pounds of it! He had jade rings on every finger to a jade cube and sphere held in his hands. He wore a large jade-beaded collar. A jade bead was placed inside his mouth. He also has large ear ornaments in the shape of flowers. His face was covered with a mosaic mask made from a super rare and valuable green jade known as imperial jade. The mosaic mask that covers his face transforms it into a symbol of eternal life and vitality. This mask signifies Pakal's everlasting existence. Just think of it—as his body aged and decayed, his face would forever be alive, with his eyes open, his face youthful.

 Jade was used for offerings in royal and elite burials. Its durability and beauty made it a symbol of preciousness and wealth. Jade was hard to come by. The primary source of jade in Mesoamerica was Guatemala, along the Motagua River, making it a precious and sought-after resource. Crafting it was a labor-intensive process involving grinding, cutting, and polishing, which took hundreds of hours for a single piece. It was even tougher than steel! Jade was considered more important than gold in Maya culture. Jade ornaments were often passed down as heirlooms, but Pakal's burial with such rare and valuable bright green jade emphasizes his significance. Not just anyone could wear jade, so it sets him apart as a ruler or ajaw.

Jade wasn’t just a precious material though. It was associated with water, maize, fertility, and power, a material filled with vital essences. The green color represents the sprouting of maize, an essential crop in Mayan society. Having it all over his body also transforms him into the powerful maize god, symbolizing rebirth. When the maize god died, he awaited his resurrection and renewal in the waters of the underworld, inside a mythical mountain at the center of the universe—just like maize when it is sown in soil. Here, the Temple of the Inscriptions is like the mythical mountain, and Pakal is? the maize god who is reborn in the afterlife. It's a pretty powerful symbolism of divine kingship—and how objects like all this jade helped to communicate that Pakal was divine or god-like.

So, K'inich Janaab Pakal's tomb and its jade treasures provide a captivating glimpse into the Maya world and the importance of jade and preparations for the afterlife in their culture. That’s it for now, adventurers. Who knows what fascinating stories from the past we'll uncover next time!