The Palace at Palenque is a complex building, constructed at different times, divided into four main courtyards, with a maze of corridors and rooms that give shape to a rambling administrative and residential block. The site was discovered 1784. Explorers could see a square tower dominating the rectangular compound formed by several buildings, then completely overgrown by a thick jungle... They soon realized the building was filled with art in many different parts. When archaeological research started at the site there were many ideas as to the function of the building and assumptions made, such as that the tower was built so that Mayan royalty and priests could observe the sun falling directly onto the Temple of the Inscriptions during the winter solstice. Archaeologists believe the tower was probably constructed by Kuk Balam II , between 764 and 783. Stuccoed reliefs with large human figures, a whole court filled with kings and tunnels with beautiful light filtering from the outside, are all part of this wonderful architectural compound that will transport you back into the time when this place was alive and important political decisions were made at this very place!

The Palace is the largest compound in Palenque, measuring 97 mts x 73 mts at its base. This rectangular building has the most constructive volume in the city and covers the most surface too. The first buildings date from the Early Classic period, called subterraneos, and built on a 3 mts high platform. These buildings were built on a low lying platform during the 5th Century AD. They were later on dismantled and buried when the height and extension of the original platform were augmented by the end of the 6th century AD. The buildings you may see there now are on a 10 meter high platform. House E was one of the first buildings to be constructed over the new and spacious base. It was commissioned by Pakal around 650 AD. After that houses A, B and C and the subterranean were added... When exploring the building do not forget to take pictures in the subterranean. These buildings were the base for new constructions. They were built in this order E, J, K, B, C, A, D, A-D, Tower, Toilets, H, G, I, F and L. The following rulers continued building structures on the platform, thus reducing the interior patios. They were Janaab Pakal, Kan Balam II , Kan Chitam II and Kuk Balam II . The Palace got its final appearance around 790 AD, as a result of a long series of modifications. Now the building boasted amazing stairways, galleries, corridors, sanctuaries, passageways, latrines, steam baths, and a peculiar 4 story tower. After the 1970s, when the question was whether palaces had a residential function or not and whether they had administrative or ritual uses the archaeological discussion shifted into whether the presence of a centralized or a decentralized government could be inferred from the architectural features and the palace's functionality. The study of Maya Palaces made a comeback between 1995 and 2010 and now the study of the Maya Court dominates the archaeologists' efforts to find the truth... We are certain that important events took place in Maya Palaces, such as: the celebration of political and commercial aliances with other kingdoms. It was the place where bureaucracy and the interaction of the main nobles and others of lesser rank took place. The Palace at Palenque, too, must have been the place where offerings and tributes as well as prisoners were presented. The Palace was a place of entertainment and music and dance performances, as well as of sacrifices, negotiations of important or strategic marriages and ritual practises all were a part of the activities that often took place in the Palace. Like today, banquets and events were celebrated in the Palace and high ranking priests and rulers were adorned and dressed up for special venues within the palace's walls.

The compound had political and administrative functions and was, at the same time, the residence of the Palenque Dynastic Rulers. Apparently, the galleries of the subterraneans such as those of House E were designed so as to be the halls where enthronement ceremonies were held. The subterraneans represented the Underworld and maybe that was why when a ruler died his throne was placed in this part of the building, so as to indicate the ending of its useful life and ceasing of its function. It is like a memorial or like if we placed Washington 's chair or Jefferson 's pen in a museum. However, for the Maya the building itself, the particular part of the building, the particular place to put the throne, all had a spiritual and deeply meaningful symbolism. It may be considered as highly speculative to say this, but of course the idea on this website is not only to report archaeological findings, but to also interpret some of their possible meanings and bring the Maya to life for you. All buildings in the Palace were painted red, with the only exception of House E, which was painted white.

The northeastern part of the Palace is adorned by an exquisitely harmonious patio, bordered by Houses A, B, C and AD. It has a decorated stairway with glyphic inscriptions, as well as stone panels representing several captives, thus receiving the name of the Slave Patio. It is highly possible this was the place where the political and administrative organization leaders responsible for the provinces subject to Palenque met and discussed the affairs of those states!

The relief sculptures one may appreciate in this part of the Palace seem disproportionately large for their setting: its conjectured that they represented conquered rulers and that they were brought to Palenque from their conquered states. It is not certain that all of them are captives though. The little figures and the two characters near the glyphic stairway most certainly are, but the nine on the disproportionate stones may be sublords, because they are not bound, and are dressed in full regalia wearing earplugs although they don't have a band around their heads! Their gestures alone tell us nothing.

Inside is House D. House D has several pillasts decorated with stucco reliefs. The stucco tablet decorating one of those pillasts shows the main character performing a dance, holding an axe and a supernatural snake. The woman who is also depicted on this bas relief holds the snake too, but it may be that this is not a dance at all. Maybe the person has a deformity in one of his feet. It could well be that the man is Pakal and the Lady his mother, Lady Zac-Kuk, or his wife Lady Ahpo Hel. On Pillast B, in House D, you may also see a person sitting on a throne.

The Oval Plaque is in House E and represents the enthronement ceremony of Pakal II, who is sitting on a bicefalous (two headed) jaguar throne, receiving the insignia of power from his mother Lady Sak K'uk (White Quetzal). In the interior of House E there are painted details forming the body of a Cosmic Monster, a mythological being. The signs representing the Moon are observed, as wll as those representing the Sky and the Sun. At the center is a mask and Itzam Ye's wings are extended. Itzam Ye is the main Bird God. The Cosmic Monster represents the passage of the stars and all the heavenly bodies in the celestial abode...

On House AD in the Palace a tablet was found that registers biographical data from Kan Joy Chitam II: his birth in 644 AD and his designation as the heir to the throne in 684.

The enthronement of Pakal II is also consigned: in the monument commissioned by Chitam II. Chitam initiated the work on the building. This gallery connected houses A and D. In the center of this building the Palace Tablet was set, but he only started the project and was unable to complete it... In 711 AD he was captured by the lords of Tonina. The tablet and the building were finalized by his successor and younger brother U K'aba Ox Yo Tsan (His Name, that of Three Thrones, appears as being K'inich Ahkal Mo' Naab III ) who registered his own succession in 720 AD, in the last column in the inscription.

Kan Balam II's death in 702 AD is also mentioned in this text. That year Kan Joy Chitam I got his title at age six and was enthroned as the Lord of Palenque.

The scene shows Pakal's grandson K'inich Ahkal Mo' Naab III receiving the insignias of power from his parents Pakal II and Lady Ts'ak Ahaw. The characters are portrayed sitting on the throne of creation, are also linked to the name of the new ruler whose mother was Lady Kinuw and his father was Batz Chan Mat. (Batz Chan Mat was son of Pacal II and Lady Tz'akb'u Ajaw. He acsended to power 721 A .D.)

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