PXL_20250424_231642598

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 07:49:22 +0100

SARCOPHAGUS OF BAK (PALENQUE), CHIAPAS

The Great Royal Tomb of Palenque was discovered by the Mexican archaeologist Alberto Ruz Lhuillier. On June 15, 1952, he entered the chamber containing the sarcophagus, a reproduction of which, taken from the original, is before you.

Text on the south side:
8 Ahaw 13 Pohp hulahi, 6 Etz'nab I I Yax, chum, 4 katun, ywal, och-bi, K'inich Hanab Pakal, k'ul Ahaw Bak, u tz'akabhi, u kabhi, u mam, Na Kan.

On March 26, 603, he was born. On August 31, 683, the one of the 4 katuns, he entered the path (he died), the one of the Sun Face, Hanab Pakal (II).

Text on the west side:
pat bu-y, u ?. chum [tun]-il, Na. 5 kaban 5 Mak, och-bi,Ahkal Mo' Nab (I). 7 Kib 4 Kayab, och.bi, Kan Hoy Ch'itam (I), 9 Manik 5 Yaxk'in, och-bi,
Ahkal Mo'Nab (II). 7 Ahaw 3 Kank'in, u chum[tun], Kan B'alam (I). II Chikchan 4 Kayab, och.bi, Kan B'alam (I), K'ul Ahaw Bak. 2 Eb seat
(0) from K'eh, och-bi, Na Yohl Ik'nal. They closed the pottery, they set it up [in the] house. On December 1, 524, he entered the path (died), Ahkal Mo'
Neb (I). On July 23, 570, Ahkal Mo Nab (II) entered the path (died). December 7, 573, marks the end of the tun (period).

Text on the north side:
2 Kimi 14 Mol, och-bi, Ah Ne'Ohl Mat, K'ul Ahaw Bak. Ah Ne'Ohl Mat, Lord of the Sacred Blood of Bak (Palenque).

West side text:
3 Chuwen 4 Wayeb, och-bi, Hanab Pakal (I), K'ul Ahaw Bak.4 Chikchan, I Ahaw, 8 Kayab, u chum[tun], Sak K'uk', 13 Yax, och-bi, Sak K'uk'.13
Kimi 4 Pax, och-bi, Kan Mo' Balam, K'ul Ahaw Bak, u nikil, Kan Mo' Balam, u hun-nen, Na Sak K'uk'... On January 27, 633, Lady Sak

Period: Late Classic
Date: (9.12.11.5.18), August 31, 683 AD.

K'uk' (White Quetzal), commemorates the end of the tun (end of period). [continues on the south side where it says K'inich Hanab Pakal Il was born].