Who was Pakal the Great?

K'inich Janaab Pakal was one of the most well-known rulers in the ancient Maya civilisation.

He became the king of a city called Palenque at the age of 12 and ruled for 68 years. This made him one of the longest ruling kings in Maya history.

As king, he ordered the construction of many buildings and made many temples and palaces bigger.

Each of the ancient Maya cities was ruled by a different king or queen. The Maya believed these rulers had to keep the gods happy.

To achieve this, the rulers offered sacrifices (sometimes human), conducted mass prayers and held parades through their cities.

One of the most famous Maya rulers was K'inich Janaab Pakal, whom we know today as Pakal the Great. He was king of Palenque, or Lakamha (in modern Mexico).

The name Pakal means shield in classic Maya language. He became king at the age of 12, but his mother, Lady Sak K’uk, was queen before him and continued as regent until he was a grown adult.

Pakal ruled for 68 years from 615-683 AD, the fifth longest of any monarch in history.

During his reign Pakal made palaces bigger and built temples and monuments.

Pakal also ruled the city of Palenque at the same time the Anglo-Saxons were completing their famous ship burial at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk, England.

Pakal was buried in a large sarcophagus (stone coffin) in the largest of Palenque’s pyramids, known as the Temple of the Inscriptions.

The secret opening of the tomb was not discovered until 1948 by Mexican archaeologist Alberto Ruz Lhuillier and even then, it took four years to uncover. It finally opened in 1952.

The skeletal remains inside the coffin still had the jade funerary mask and bead necklaces.

The large sarcophagus lid is unique Classic Maya art. It shows Pakal resting on the open jaws of a serpent, showing the way to the realm of the dead.

Have a look at the thinking points below and think about your answer to each question. You could even write them down on a piece of paper or discuss them with somebody else if you want to.

• Pakal’s mother acted as regent when he first became king. What do you think was the impact of this was on the city and the people of Palenque?

• Why do you think the discovery of Pakal’s tomb was so significant?

• What can be learnt about the Maya people from the artwork on Pakal’s sarcophagus (stone coffin) lid?

Let's find out what you know about Pakal the Great in this quiz.

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