Photos from the Mayan archaeological site of Palenque, in Chiapas, Mexico.
One of the most significant archaeological finds of the 20th century was the tomb of K'inich Janaab' Pakal, ruler of the Mayan city of Palenque from 615 to 683 AD. He ruled Palenque for an amazing 68 years, beginning at age twelve. Keep in mind that the average life span of a human of this primitive era was about 40 years, even with the best living conditions. During his reign, Palenque became something like a Mayan Florence, a city of advanced engineering, art, architecture and economic prosperity.
Pakal's tomb was found in Pyramid of Inscriptions. This discovery gave evidence to the fact that Mayan's buried their rulers in a very similar fashion to the ancient Egyptians, yet it is believed neither civilization knew the other existed. The design and engineering of Pakal's tomb are really very similar to the Egyptian pyramids. The lid on the tomb of Pakal describes how his soul would return to the stars, from where he came. It shows the ruler seated upon the "Monster of the Sun". This term and the carving are clearning trying to communicate that Pakal took off from earth in a space craft. The primitive Mayans were using words they understood and images that aimed to represent what they saw. One can understand how a primitive Myan would describe a rocket ship blasting off as a monster. The blinding light of the engine exhaust as the rocket hurtled into space would look like the sun. Hence, the monster of the sun.
As we examine the carving, one can see a 2D interpretation of Pakal seated in a horizontal position, just as astronauts of today have to be seated to prevent them from passing out during the g-forces experienced during takeoff. Pakal seems to be handling controls with his hands and working pedals with his feet, just as our astronauts do in flight capsules. He even has an apparatus connected to his nose that would likely have been supplying him with oxygen during the flight. The decorations on the "Monster of the Sun" resemble the intricate technology controls and mechanisms that we see on modern day spacecrafts. There is even the implied flames and smoke from the thrusters at the bottom of the craft.
Add to this the fact that Pakal's body was not in the tomb when it was discovered. Pakal was documented to have lived to the age of 80 before he returned to the stars. The remains of a 40 year old person was in the tomb. There is no evidence of tampering or theft. The tomb was sealed since 683 A.D. Pakal is nowhere to be found. No one knows why the body of someone else was entombed in the pyramid. Theories exist that Pakal was one of the ancient aliens and did, in fact, return to the stars in a spacecraft and the event was documented on this tomb lid. The pyramid temple and tomb were created by the Myans to record the event for generations that followed, and hoped Pakal would return again one day.
Palenque is a Mayan archaeological site located in the Mexican state of Chiapas, not far from the Usumacinta river and about 130 km south of Ciudad del Carmen. It is a medium-sized site, smaller than Tikal and Copán, but contains some of the most beautiful works of architecture and sculpture that the Mayans have produced.
The area covers about 2.5 km², but it is estimated that less than 10% of the total area that reached the city was explored, as still many structures remain covered by the forest.
The temples commemorate the ascent to the throne of Lord Chan Bahlum II, after the death of King Pacal the Great and depict the new Lord as he receives greatness from the hands of his predecessor. The crosses to which the names of the temples refer are actually representations of the tree of creation that is at the center of the world (according to Maya mythology). The "Temple of the Cross" still preserves the "crest", a wall above the structure. Inside there was the central table (now exhibited at the National Museum of Anthropology) which depicts the monster of the Earth from which a maize plant sprouts. Above the plant, flanked by two human figures, is a mythological bird. The "Temple of the Fogliata Croce" has lost its facade and only a secondary passage is now complete.
