The ruins of Palenque are considered one of the most important Mayan archaeological sites in Mexico. Its beautiful natural surroundings are beyond any epithets. The ancient city is located among forested hills, in the morning the ruins are often shrouded in thick fog, a small stream flows nearby, and large pyramids and temples rise in the middle of the dark green forest canopy. It sounds too good to be true, but it really is. The combination of nature and ancient ruins gives this place a special aura. The Mexican government granted national park status in 1981, and has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1987.
Palenque - lost Mayan city
During its cultural heyday, Palenque was much more beautiful, because the monuments were covered with decorative plaster, painted in blue shades. The existence of the city, hidden deep in the jungle, was not known until 1746. Even then, rediscovered, Palenque was lost several times until, finally, explorers John Lloyd Stevens and Frederick Catherwood finally presented this gem of Mayan architecture to the world (1841).
There has been a settlement on this site since 300 BC, but Palenque acquired the status of an important Mayan city during the Classic period (300-900). Most of the surviving buildings were built between the 7th and 10th centuries, and it reached the height of its power during the reign of Pakal and his son Chan-Bahlum (600 to 700).
The inhabitants then abandoned the city, and since this region of Mexico receives the most rainfall, the ruins quickly hid in the dense jungle. Even the original name of the city is lost; the surviving ruins received their current name from the nearby small town of Santo Domingo de Palenque. To date, about a third of the city has been excavated by archaeologists. Wandering among the ruins or viewing the park from the top of the high-rise monuments, hills are visible everywhere. For the most part, these are not hills, but Mayan temples and pyramids hidden in the jungle.
The main advantage is not its size or antiquity (many other archaeological sites are larger and older). Its importance lies in its location (in the middle of the jungle), atypical Mayan architecture and epigraphy (inscriptions). Thanks to epigraphy, archaeologists have been able to restore many pages of the city’s history.
Compared to, the lesser-known Palenque has a calmer atmosphere and less intrusiveness of locals trying to sell souvenirs to visiting tourists. In addition, tourists are not prohibited from climbing most of the ancient pyramids. Plan to spend most of the day, then you can visit all the monuments, walk through the jungle, and spend some more time in the museum. The best time to visit the ruins is early in the morning after the park opens at 8 o'clock, when the pyramids are shrouded in fog against the jungle backdrop.
Palenque Palace
Palenque differs from any other Mayan archaeological site not only in the wealth of relief images and carved decorations, but also in the interesting architecture of its palace. The palace is the largest building on the territory of the archaeological park; it is a complex of buildings built at different times, and divided into four parts by a labyrinth of corridors, residential and administrative premises.
At first it was believed that the palace served as the residence of rulers and clergy, but later they came to the conclusion that it performed administrative functions. Political and military alliances were concluded here with other Mayan city-states, donations were made, and it served as a place of entertainment, sacrifices, and ritual ceremonies.
The main feature of the palace is its four-story tower, which is not found in any other Mayan city. Thanks to this unique tower, the palace looks almost Chinese. When archaeological research began, many ideas were put forward about what functions it served. It is believed that from the height of the tower, the Mayans watched the rays of the sun fall directly on the Temple of the Inscriptions on the day of the winter solstice. 
Temple of the Inscriptions in Palenque
The Temple of the Inscriptions (Templo de las Inscripciones) is one of the most famous pyramids in America and the tallest monument in Palenque. The temple is named after stone tablets with inscriptions discovered here. Most of the stone tablets that tell the family tree of the rulers of Palenque are now in the National Anthropological Museum in Mexico City. Thanks to the texts and relief images discovered here, the Temple of the Inscriptions has significantly contributed to the study of ancient Mayan culture. 
Temple of the Inscriptions in Palenque is the only pyramid in Mexico built specifically as a tomb. In 1952, Mexican archaeologist Alberto Ruz moved a stone slab in the floor at the top of the pyramid and discovered a stone-filled passage leading down a long staircase. This is how the tomb of Kinich Hanab Pakal, the famous ruler of Palenque, who ruled this city-state for 68 years (615 - 683), was discovered. This tomb is one of the most famous artifacts in the Mayan world. Rich decorations and sculptures were found in it, but the stone sarcophagus in which Pakal’s remains lay untouched from the moment of burial is of greatest interest.
Unfortunately, Pakal's tomb is currently closed to the public to avoid further damage to its frescoes. While in Mexico City, you can see the sarcophagus lid in the jade death mask at the National Museum of Anthropology (see Mexico City Museums), but the massive stone sarcophagus still remains here.
Group of the Cross in Palenque
The Group of the Cross consists of the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Foliated Cross and the Temple of the Cross, all of which are pyramids with a temple on top, topped with combed stone decorations. The walls of each temple are covered with religious sculptures and texts in the Mayan language.
The images of the cross found on the walls of churches are not at all the cross we are accustomed to, but depict the tree of the world. The World Tree was a common decorative element among pre-Columbian cultures of Mesoamerica, embodying the four cardinal directions.
Palenque Museum
Museum located 1.5 km before the entrance to the park, open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm, its visit is included in the price of visiting the ruins. The museum is small but interesting; exhibits discovered during archaeological excavations are on display here: jade jewelry, a huge collection of ceramic incense burners, several stone panels with inscriptions. The museum's main exhibit is a life-size replica of Pakal's sarcophagus, housed in an exact replica of the plexiglass tomb. The museum has a souvenir shop.
Palenque has a number of other temples, pyramids, noble residences, an aqueduct and an interesting stone bridge over the river.
The Mayan ruins are located about 7 km from the small town of Santo Domingo de Palenque. There are hotels, good cafes and restaurants, but visitors come here primarily to explore the famous ruins of the ancient Mayan city.
The tourist office is located near the main square of Santo Domingo de Palenque, on the corner of Avenida Juárez and Abasolo streets. It is open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 9pm, Sunday from 9am to 1pm.
The cheapest way to get there and back is by minibus (colectivos), which runs between the center of Santo Domingo de Palenque and the Mayan ruins every 10 minutes from morning to evening.
Between Santo Domingo de Palenque and the Mayan ruins is La Canada, a popular hotel area among tourists (located in the forest). On the way to the ruins, minibuses pass by La Canada; wave your hand and they will stop immediately.
Perhaps the most famous of the ancient Mayan cities. It is located in the northern part of the Mexican state of Chiapas. The spurs of the Chiapas Mountains form here a natural plateau about 70 m high. I was on this plateau in the 7th century. Palenque-Nachan, the “Snake City” of the Maya, was built.
In Spanish, Palenque means “palisade”, “hedge”. This huge Mayan temple center was accidentally discovered in 1759 by a military patrol that got lost in the Chiapas jungle. But only twenty-five years after this, the colonial administration sent the first expedition to study the city, which yielded brilliant results.
The ruins of Palenque have a special charm. This is the most beautiful Mayan city of the Old Kingdom era. The Mayan Indians chose an exceptionally good place for its construction. In several places, majestic buildings rise like white ghosts above the forest thickets: the square tower of the palace of the rulers of Palenque, similar to the bell tower of a medieval cathedral, elegant twin temples on high pyramidal bases - the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Cross. Temple of the Foliated Cross and, of course, the magnificent Temple of the Inscriptions. Literally a few meters behind the pyramids and the palace, mountains covered with dense greenery rise, serving as a natural backdrop for this ancient Indian city. Parrots of incredibly bright colors sit right on the steps of ancient sanctuaries and palaces. And from the tops of the white pyramids there is a magnificent view of the sea of impenetrable forests, stretching for more than a hundred kilometers, right up to the Bay of Campeche...
The beauty of the landscape and the surprisingly harmonious combination of architecture with the surrounding landscape are noted by everyone who has visited here. This is how the famous French traveler Michel Pessel describes his first meeting with the city: “Majestic white and gray buildings on a mountain ledge rose above a sea of greenery, and yet the jungle did not retreat from the city, running down to it along the slopes of the surrounding mountains. This picture in such a wild, deserted place made an irresistible impression on me. Ruins in general have a special romantic charm, and the ruins of Palenque, appearing so unexpectedly among the endless forest ocean, were simply stunning. Here the mystery of centuries appeared before me, the mystery of a civilization that had perished and disappeared, but miraculously continued to live in these grandiose buildings - witnesses of its former power and glory.”
In ancient times, Palenque was apparently a major religious center. Its history goes back almost ten centuries. This city existed from the end of the 1st millennium BC. to the end of the 1st millennium AD. Its heyday occurred in the 7th-8th centuries. At this time, the architects of Palenque erected tall pyramids topped with graceful temples and built stone dams across the ravines separating one part of the city from the other. From the tops of pyramids and observatory towers, priests studied the vault of heaven and penetrated into the secrets of the universe. Sculptors embodied amazing images of Mayan gods and rulers, priests and warriors in stone. These silent witnesses of the past saw the flourishing of the great city and then. how, over time, the creations of their disappeared creators fell into the power of the all-consuming jungle...
At the end of the 1st millennium AD. internal turmoil and invasions of warlike tribes led to the death of the city. Its silent ruins were reliably hidden by an impenetrable forest thicket. Palenque had to be rediscovered in our days. And this was done by travelers and scientists from many countries in Europe and America.
The narrow Otolum stream divides the city almost in half. In ancient times, a special aqueduct brought its waters to the very palace of the rulers of Palenque. The shallow stream was enclosed in a large stone pipe. East of Otolum, on the grassy hills at the foot of the Tumbata mountain range that blocks the southern and western approaches to the city, rise several magnificent white pyramids. All their architecture seems to be addressed to heavenly deities. On the tops of the pyramids there are small temples with rich geometric patterns on the pediments. All or almost all Palenque buildings are decorated with reliefs. Mayan carvers created them here on an unprecedented scale: reliefs are placed on platforms and pyramids, at the base of temples and on stairs, on pillars and walls, on friezes and ridges. They are executed with a harsh realism that distinguishes Palenque art from the art of other Mayan cities.
The center of the city is formed by four pyramids, among which stands out the Palace of the Rulers - a vast (104 x 80 m) building built on an artificial platform. This is a massive building with many rooms located around four courtyards sunk into the ground. A wide staircase led to the palace from the north side.
The walls of the palace are decorated with a whole gallery of reliefs. Some of them are dedicated to military victories: captive opponents sit on the ground, pitiful and unarmed, powerless before the power of the rulers of the mighty Palenque. Other reliefs depict the rulers of the city frozen in sternly solemn poses, wearing intricate feather headdresses and ritual robes. Some of them hold in their hands wands decorated with feathers - signs of power. Submissive subjects sit at their feet. Other characters appear in poses of frenzied dance: their sandaled feet fly off the ground, their bodies are bent forward, their outstretched arms are extended to the idols, their mouths are open - they are in ecstasy. In some places, traces of blue and red paint survived on the reliefs, which eventually covered the gray-white images
Adjacent to the palace is a five-story tower, completely unusual for Mayan architecture. Apparently it served as an astronomical observatory; on the top floor there is still a stone bench from which the priest-astronomer sat, observing the movement of the heavenly bodies. The staircase leading to the observatory begins only on the second floor. In order to get from the first floor to the second, Palenque astronomers probably had to use a ladder.
Next to the palace there are three pyramids, on the tops of which were the main sanctuaries of the city: the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Cross and the Temple of the Foliated Cross. These temporary names are derived from the main subjects of the altar slabs located inside the sanctuaries.
The wide facade of the Sun Temple, built on a low five-step pyramid, is divided by three entrances. The columns of the main entrance are decorated with hieroglyphic inscriptions: Inside the temple there is a sanctuary. On its rear wall there is a large, well-preserved bas-relief representing the sun, depicted as a shield pierced by two crossed spears. On the right and left sides of him, on the bodies of defeated slaves, there are two priests making sacrifices. The bas-relief is complemented by a number of hieroglyphs, by which one can determine the date of construction of the temple - 642.
The same date was preserved on the relief decorating the Temple of the Cross. The cross, which forms the center of the entire composition, is a symbol of the sacred Mayan plant - corn. The upper part of the relief depicts the quetzal bird, which was deified by the Indians of Central America. Just like in the Temple of the Sun,” and here two priests are depicted making a sacrifice.
The third of the Palenque sanctuaries, the Temple of the Foliated Cross, takes its name from its superbly executed bas-relief. Its main motif is a cross, from which leaves bloom upward and to the sides, reminiscent of tongues of flame. A stylized human face emerges from the tip of the top leaf. The horizontal crossbars of the cross are also decorated with human heads, only of smaller sizes. But on both sides there are hieroglyphic inscriptions in four rows.
A special place among the ancient monuments of Palenque is occupied by the legendary Temple of the Inscriptions, which amazed its discoverers with its grandeur - J. L. Stephens and F. Catherwood. In clear weather, the white stone pyramid of the temple is visible from the plain for many kilometers. The Temple of Inscriptions received its name due to the abundance of hieroglyphic inscriptions carved on its walls, stairs and columns. The walls of the temple were once decorated with huge slabs, completely covered with numerous bas-reliefs of extraordinary expressiveness and realism. Among the temple inscriptions, researchers found several dates, one of which was 692.
The Temple of the Inscriptions is a pyramid unique to pre-Columbian America. It simultaneously served as a mausoleum where the ruler of this city-state rested, just as was customary in Ancient Egypt. This discovery was made in 1952 by Mexican archaeologist Alberto Ruz Lhuillier.
For four years, starting in 1949, Alberto Rus Lhuillier, guided by intuition and scientific experience, went to unravel the mystery hidden under the pyramid. At the time, the scientist was engaged in the restoration of the Temple of Inscriptions. While exploring the inside of the pyramid, Alberto Rus accidentally noticed one of the stone slabs protruding above the floor level. When the slab was lifted, a narrow staircase covered with stones opened underneath it. At a depth of 18 m there was a gigantic crypt in which, under a 5-ton tombstone, lay the remains of the “halach vinik,” the supreme ruler of Palenque, deified during his lifetime. This discovery of the tomb of the "American Tutankhamun" was of exceptional significance. Before this, I believe that the American pyramids, unlike the Egyptian ones, are not tombs.
Outside the city center are the Temple of the Count, the Temple of the Lion and dozens of other buildings. The true size of Palenque is still unknown, since the ruins of many ancient buildings are hidden by dense jungle. Ruins of houses and sanctuaries are found along a distance of 7.5 kilometers.
Palenque was completely abandoned by the Mayans, apparently in the late 900s. The ruins of some of its buildings preserved traces of the violent seizure of the city by foreigners, but the most impressive buildings of Palenque remained untouched. They became a monument to the creative genius of the Mayans, who created the greatest of all civilizations of pre-Columbian America.
Thanks to such mysterious places as Palenque, Mexico is now considered one of the most popular tourist countries in the world. Palenque National Park has gained such fame not by chance. The pyramids, temples and incredible treasures found there attract the attention of not only curious tourists, but also many scientists from all over the world. What secrets and mysteries does this ancient city, hidden in the wild jungle, keep?
The world famous Palenque National Park is located in Mexico in the state of Chiapas, 6 km from the town of Santo Domingo del Pelenque, in a mountainous area at an altitude of about 145 m above sea level. It is also called the Pearl of the Jungle, as the park is surrounded by exotic greenery among forests, waterfalls and streams. The air here is very humid, filled with the aromas of lush vegetation. 
How to get there from Cancun
There are different ways to get from Cancun to Santo Domingo del Palenque. Since there is no airport in Palenque or in its immediate vicinity, you will have to use ground transportation, bus or car. Buses depart from the city bus station. Travel time is about 13 hours. It is better to take a ticket on an overnight flight so that you can be in Palenque the next morning.
If you use a rental car, it will be more expensive, but faster and more fun. Driving along popular tourist routes is not difficult, and the advantage is that you do not need to depend on bus schedules. You can rent a car on the appropriate Internet sites or directly at the Cancun airport.
It is also possible to shorten the journey by taking a plane from Cancun to Villahermosa. The nearest airport is located here. It is 145 km from Palenque, which can be covered by intercity bus in 2.5 hours.
How to get there from other regions
From Merida to Santo Domingo del Palenque it takes 10 hours by bus, from Mexico City – 16 hours, from Playa del Carmen – 11 hours, from Campeche – 5 hours, from San Cristobal – 5 hours. Intercity bus service in Mexico is very developed, and the buses themselves are a fairly comfortable form of transport.
The Park itself and the ancient complex of Palenque can be reached by small minibuses that depart from Allende Street in Santo Domingo del Palenque. Taxis have distinctive "Ruinas" signs. The fare is 20 pesos. Travel time 15 minutes.
History of the city of Palenque
Official history dates Palenque to 100 BC, and the dawn period is 600-800 AD. AD Unofficial sources claim that the incredibly complex ancient artifacts found should date the founding of the city several thousand years earlier. At that time, the city may have been inhabited by representatives of an unknown civilization. In the 900s AD. The Indians left Palenque. Gradually the city turned into ruins, buried in the wild Mexican jungle.
The name Palenque was given to the city by the Spaniards. And the Mayan Indians called it Lakam Ha, which means “Big Water,” perhaps because the complex was built near a river and surrounded by numerous waterfalls.
Ancient buildings were found by archaeologists not so long ago. Since the city is located in the heart of the jungle at the foot of the mountains, it was not easy to get to. As a result, for many centuries it was forgotten.
In the 18th century AD, Indians wandering through the jungle in search of food discovered ancient ruins. They reported this to a Catholic priest. From him, the Spanish authorities learned about the lost city, who organized an archaeological expedition led by Captain Antonio del Rio. He compiled a detailed description of his research, which was translated into English. After reading this description, American traveler J. L. Stephens traveled to Mexico in 1839 to explore the ruins of Palenque for himself. Since then, Palenque has been one of the most famous and attractive Mayan cities.
Attractions Palenque
It is believed that the historical complex of Palenque is only one-third excavated. How many more secrets does this amazing place keep! And although much is hidden from human eyes, the city is full of unique, breathtaking sights. In order not to miss anything important when examining them, you will need a Palenque map, which can be purchased at the entrance to the complex. The map shows the location and names of all objects accessible to tourists.
The area of Palenque National Park covers about 24 square kilometers. km. The park received its status in 1981 and since then has been under the protection and close attention of government authorities. In 1987, Palenque was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Temple of the Inscriptions
The visiting card of the park is the mysterious Temple of the Inscriptions in Palenque. It was discovered during archaeological excavations carried out by Alberto Ruz in 1952. Rus excavated the entrance to the tomb, where there was a huge sarcophagus with the buried, as is commonly believed, the ruler of the Mayan tribe, Pascal. This sarcophagus is perfectly preserved. It was decorated with mysterious relief images that still excite the minds of scientists and researchers. Some people see on the lid of the sarcophagus an image of the deities worshiped by the ancient Mayans, others see an image of an “astronaut” at the control panel of a spacecraft.
A 24-meter pyramid was built over the ruler’s tomb, on top of which is the Temple of the Inscriptions. It was named by archaeologists because three stone slabs are attached to the walls of the temple, on which 617 hieroglyphs are depicted. Scientists are trying to unravel these inscriptions, but so far they have only been able to decipher a small part of them. Unfortunately, access to the temple is prohibited for tourists. Therefore, you can admire this amazing structure from the outside. And copies of the sarcophagus and other treasures found in the temple and tomb can be seen in the local museum, which is definitely worth a visit.
Palace complex
Another incredible piece of architectural art is the Palenque Palace Complex. It was erected on a huge platform, the height of which is 10 meters. At its base lie giant megaliths. Some modern historians suggest that these giants could not have been made by the hands of the Indians. The stone blocks are so intricately and perfectly processed that they suggest the former existence of some ancient, highly developed civilization.
The palace complex itself is a grandiose structure 104 meters long and 80 meters wide. This is a confusing labyrinth of many rooms, passages and courtyards. In the center there is a tall tower called the observatory.
Inspecting the amazing pyramids, temples, and palaces of Palenque is a very exciting activity that will take several hours, or even days. This park will forever be remembered by travelers not only for its ancient buildings, but also for its amazing jungle and murmuring waterfalls.
Shops and shopping near Palenque
Of course, Palenque is not a metropolis, where the main streets are lined with huge shopping centers, boutiques and shops. Travelers come to this park primarily to explore the ancient Mayan buildings. In this regard, near the park you can buy mostly inexpensive souvenirs depicting local attractions. And in the nearby town of Santo Domingo del Palenque there are small shops with all kinds of necessary travel goods and souvenirs. You can also buy fresh food and drinks in the city.
In 1948, a Mexican historian named Alberto Ruz, while exploring the forests of his native country in the state of Chiapas, unexpectedly found the ruins of the ancient city of Palenque (Fortress). In the center of this city there was a pyramid, on the upper platform of which there was a temple structure, which later received the name “Temple of the Inscriptions”. The temple got its name because of the large slabs covered with bas-reliefs and hieroglyphic signs, among which there were people, animals and mythical creatures. It is not possible to decipher these records 100% until today, because cryptographers have not fully understood the phonemic component of this ancient language. Looking at these images, we can say with confidence that the pictures depict the mythical gods of the Indian tribes that once inhabited the territory of Mexico.
The temple is located on a 20-meter pyramid, the total number of its steps is 9 pieces. The back side of this structure rests on the slope of a very steep and high mountain. At the time when Alberto Ruz discovered this valuable archaeological find, the pyramid was a huge hill, densely covered with vegetation.
On the floor in the temple you can see stone slabs, well polished by ancient masters, in one of which you can see two rows of holes that are closed with stone plugs. The walls of the temple are continued under the slabs, which led archaeologists to the idea that there must be another room below, under the slabs. In 1952, during excavations, a huge burial complex was discovered almost at the bottom of the pyramid.
The dimensions of the burial were 9 meters long, 4 meters wide, the distance from floor to ceiling was 7 meters. The room itself was made perfectly, the stones, skillfully hewn by ancient craftsmen, were every single one in their place. The plaster bas-reliefs depicted 9 human figures in rich attire. Scientists have suggested that these images belong to the spirits of the night, the Lords, who, according to the Mayan religion, were underground deities. The figures depict lush clothes, and on their heads are headdresses made from the feathers of the mythical quetzal bird. All the Lords have masks on their faces, and cloaks made of feathers and bronze plates are draped over their shoulders. Typical attire for that time was attached to the belt: loincloths and skirts, and sandals made of leather straps were worn on the feet. The entire body of the deities in the bas-relief was covered with jewelry. Each Lord held a scepter in his hands, which emphasized his high origin. The handle of the scepter was made in the form of a snake's head; there were also masks with the image of the rain god and shields with the face of the sun god.
The floor of the crypt was covered with a slab hewn from stone and subsequently well polished; its surface was completely covered with carvings. Along the edge of the slab there was a ribbon consisting of unknown hieroglyphs. Alberto Ruz, after examining the slab, deciphered two dates relating to 603 and 633 AD. Today, the slab is one of the greatest works of art of the Mayan era; the carving technique is similar to the work of Renaissance masters.
Under the slab, archaeologists discovered the burial of a man who was approximately 40-50 years old. The skeleton of the deceased was covered with precious stones. At that time, it remained a mystery to scientists who the found skeleton was during life: a ruler or a high priest.
The found plate received its first description thanks to the efforts of the Soviet scientist Valery Ivanovich Gulyaev. Having completely examined the slab, he noticed that in the lower part of the artifact one could see the image of a terrible mask reminiscent of death. The mask is completely devoid of soft tissues of the face, instead of eyes there are huge gaping eye sockets, the nose is completely missing, and huge fangs protrude from the mouth. At the head of the mask there are symbols of death, and opposite their opposite is birth, in the form of a grain of corn and an ear of corn. On the top of the monstrous mask is the image of a young man dressed in rich clothes. The young man's body is slightly thrown back, he looks intensely at the image, vaguely reminiscent of a cross. Scientists have suggested that this cross is a stylized drawing of a corn sprout, symbolizing life among the Mayans. At the very top of the cross drawing you can see the image of the sacred quetzal bird, whose feathers were used by priests to perform rites and rituals. A symbol of water was depicted at the bird’s feet, and next to it were two small disks with the faces of the sun god.
A few years later, two scientists: the Italian Pinotti and the Japanese Matsumura, working separately, came to the conclusion that this slab depicts a real image of a person, and around him there are very real objects, and not symbols of the mystical category, as was previously believed. Further examination of the slab resulted in the hypothesis that it depicts a person sitting in some kind of aircraft or spacecraft, that is, the drawing of the slab is possibly a detailed drawing of an ancient spaceship. Soon, researchers from all over the world began to come to the same conclusions. US aircraft designer John Sanderson, using a computer program, turned the image of the slab into a three-dimensional model. As a result, the scientist was presented with a part of the rocket cabin with a control panel and the presence of a propulsion system. Sanderson also modeled the external image of the paper version of the rocket he designed.
The greatest fame on the theme of the found spacecraft was found in the version of a Swiss writer whose name was Erich von Däniken. He wrote the book “Chariot of the Gods”, in which he pointed out that the image on the slab found in the ancient city of Palenque is a drawing of an ancient astronaut sitting in the cockpit of his flying starship. The book, published in large numbers, instantly became a worldwide bestseller. In his book, von Däniken turned the slab over and got the desired result, which actually depicted a man surrounded by unknown objects reminiscent of spaceship instruments.
Däniken wrote that in the middle of the slab there is a man depicted in a sitting position. A man is wearing a helmet with wires or hoses extending from it, his body is tilted forward towards the control panel, and in front of his face is a device that resembles the appearance of an oxygen apparatus. The human forelimbs are on the instrument panel. With his right hand, the ancient astronaut presses the button, and with his left hand, he squeezes the handle of the lever, and with the heel of his left foot he presses on the pedal.
Daniken also claims in his book that the astronaut is wearing modern clothes: a sweater collar is visible on his neck, knitted cuffs are visible on the sleeves. At the astronaut’s waist, according to the writer, you can see a seat belt made in the form of a belt with a huge buckle. The image is supposedly wearing tight-fitting trousers on its legs.
In the Soviet Union, science fiction writer Alexander Kazantsev made similar arguments when he published an article in the scientific journal “Technology for Youth.” If you look closely at the stove, it essentially has nothing in common with astronautics. Representatives of the idea of an astronaut have distorted the true image of the slab too much. Many details were turned upside down, in particular the sacred quetzal bird; The depicted young man is not at all dressed in the clothes described by Daniken, since the Mayans did not know either sweaters or fitted trousers in their originality: a loincloth served as clothing for them. The young man's body, as well as his arms and legs, are decorated only with bracelets.
Also, the image of the astronaut, according to Daniken and Kazantsev, is inverted and tilted the way these two people wanted, in a transverse image, whereas in fact the image should be longitudinal.
It is still not known for certain who is depicted on the stone slab from the temple in Palenque; maybe it’s really an astronaut, or maybe a deity.
Video - Palenque temple of ancient civilization
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The largest collection of ancient buildings of the Mayan civilization in the northeast of the state of Chapias in. The archaeological complex occupies a total of about 15 km². The main part of the buildings was erected between the 2nd and 7th centuries. AD, just during the heyday of civilization. Today the ruins of Palenque are included in the version of our website.
The city was abandoned after 900. Due to the high level of precipitation, the entire territory was overgrown with tropical thickets and was hidden from view until the middle of the 18th century. In 1746, Palenque was discovered by the Spaniards. They came up with the name for the settlement, although the Mayans themselves called it Lakam-Ha, which translated meant “Big Water.” At the moment, only a small part of the complex is open to the public; 90% of the ancient city is still under impenetrable jungle.
Among the buildings that have reached us are the ruins of the Main Palace and several religious temples: the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Cross, the Temple of the Inscriptions. The latter was carefully studied by scientists, since it contained the sarcophagus of the actual ruler of the city and the entire Baakul kingdom. His name was Pakal, and for those closest to him and his subjects he was the “Shining Sword.” It was during the reign of Pakal that these royal temples and pyramids were erected.
Palenque is 2.5 hours' drive from Villahermosa International Airport. It is quite far from the capital region - about 15 hours away. Shuttle taxis depart regularly from modern Palenque to the ruins. The Archaeological Museum is open on the territory of the complex.
Photo attraction: Ruins of the city of Palenque
