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Revision as of 01:54, 26 January 2003 by Infrogmation (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Palenque is a Mayan archeological site on the Usumacinta River in the province of Chiapas, Mexico, about 130 km. south of Ciudad del Carmen. It is a medium sized site, much smaller than such huge sites as Tikal or Copan, but it contains some of the finest architecture, scupture, and stucco reliefs the Maya produced.
The site was already long abandoned when the Spanish arrived in Chiapas. The first European to visit the ruins and publish an account was Father Pedro Lorenzo de la Nada in 1567; at the time the local Chol Maya called it Otolum meaning "Land with strong houses", from wich de la Nada gave the site it's Spanish name "Palenque", meaning "fortification". Palenque also became the name for the town which was built over some peripheral ruins down in the valley from the main ceremonial center of the ancient city, Santo Domingo del Palenque.
An ancient name for the city was Lakam Ha, which translates as "Great Water", for the springs and small rivers which flow from the site. Palenque was the capital of the important classic-age Mayan city-state of B'aakal (Bone), Situated in the western reaches of Mayan territory, on the edge of the southern highlands, B'aakal was a large and vital center of Maya civilization from the 5th century AD to the 9th century.
The B'aakal state had a chequered career. Its original dynasts were perhaps Olmec. Politically, the city experienced diverse fortunes, being disastrously defeated by Kalakmul in 599 and again in 611
Nevertheless, B'aakal produced what is arguably the best known Mayan Ajaw (king), Pakal the Great, who ruled from 615 to 683, and left one of the most magnificent tomb-works in the Mayan world.
During the 8th century, B'aakal came under increasing stress and, in concert with most other Classic Mayan city-states, disappeared back into the forest shortly after 800. The district remained essentially abandoned until the coming of the Spanish in the 1520s. Thereafter it followed standard South Mexican history.
A list of known Mayan rulers of the city is as follows:
- K'uk B'alam I 431-435
- "Casper" (nickname; ancient name not translated) 435-487
- B'utz Aj Sak Chiik 487-501
- Ahkal Mo' Naab I 501-524
- vacant ?
- K'an Joy Chitam I 529-565
- Ahkal Mo' Naab II 565-570
- vacant ?
- K'an B'alam I 572-583
- Yohl Iknal (female ruler) 583-604
- Aj Ne' Ohl Mat 605-612
- Sac K'uk' (fem.) 612-615 d. 640
- K'inich Janaab' Pakal I ("the Great") 615-683
- K'inich K'an B'alam II 683-702
- K'inich K'an Joy Chitam II 702-711 d. 722?
- Xoc (regent for Kan-Joy Chitam II) 711?-c. 722
- K'inich Ahkal Mo' Naab III 722-729 >
- K'inich Janaab' Pakal II fl. c. 742
- K'inich K'uk B'alam II 799-?