The life of Pakal the Great - BBC Bitesize

Pakal: The great Maya king

A big ancient stone pyramid with lots of steps stands in a green jungle. A small temple sits on top. — Image caption,
Temple of the Inscriptions in Palenque in Mexico. This also has the tomb of Pakal.

K'inich Janaab Pakal was one of the most well-known rulers in the ancient Maya civilisation.

He became the king of a city called Palenque at the age of 12.

He ruled for 68 years and was one of the longest ruling kings in Maya history.

He ordered the building of many temples, monuments and palaces.

Important words for the Maya Civilisation

Keyword	Definition
Archaeologist	People who dig up and uncover artefacts to help understand the past.
Funerary mask	A mask used to cover the face of a dead person when they are buried.
Monarch	Someone who rules a country, like a king, queen or emperor.
Monument	Something which is built to remember a person or event.
Parades	A special event where a group of people march together for a great show or display.
Regent	A person who rules a country when the king or queen is unable to.
Reign	The time a king or queen rules a country.
Sacrifice	Offering something valuable, such as food or an animal, to a god. In some past civilisations, this could even include a human life.

How do we know about Pakal the Great?

Why is Pakal famous?

Pakal the Great looking over the kingdom.

Each of the ancient Maya cities was ruled by a different king or queen. The Maya believed these rulers had to keep the gods happy.

To achieve this, the rulers offered sacrifices (sometimes human), conducted mass prayers and held parades through their cities.

Pakal the Great as a child with his mother.

One of the most famous Maya rulers was K'inich Janaab Pakal, whom we know today as Pakal the Great. He was king of Palenque, or Lakamha (in modern Mexico).

Pakal ruled for 68 years from 615-683 AD, the fifth longest of any monarch in history.

In his reign Pakal made palaces bigger and built temples. He also ruled the city of Palenque at the same time the Anglo-Saxons were completing their famous ship burial at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk, England.

What was in Pakal’s tomb?

Alberto Ruz Lhuillier discovering Pakal the Great's tomb.

Pakal was buried in a large sarcophagus (stone coffin) in the largest of Palenque’s pyramids, known as the Temple of the Inscriptions.

The skeletal remains inside the coffin still had the jade funerary mask and bead necklaces.

The large sarcophagus lid is unique Classic Maya art. It shows Pakal resting on the open jaws of a serpent, showing the way to the realm of the dead.

Think like a historian

Pink thought bubble that says Thinking Points!

Have a look at the thinking points below and think about your answer to each question. You could even write them down on a piece of paper or discuss them with somebody else if you want to.

Why do you think the discovery of Pakal’s tomb was so important?
What do you think archaeologists can learn about the Maya people and Pakal the Great from the jade funerary mask and bead necklaces found in his tomb?
Why do you think the Maya kings, such as Pakal the Great, held parades and offered sacrifices?