The death mask of the most famous ancient Maya king, Pakal of Palenque

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.

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!

Speaker: Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank

Main artwork: 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)

CHAPTERS
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

The global medieval world:    • The medieval world and beyond, c. 500...  

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#maya #mesoamerica #archaeology #arthistory #history #worldhistory #socialstudies #education #ancient #palenque #pakal #jade #death #tomb #ancienthistory

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