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Temple of the Skull at Palenque
Temple of the Skull, Palenque, Chiapas

Temple of the Skull, Palenque, Chiapas

Nicoletta Maestri

Continuing east of Group IV, and by climbing a series of steps, you will reach the Main Plaza and the Templo de la Calavera (or Temple of the Skull). This temple is the westernmost of a series of three temples, (the others are Temple XIII and Temple of the Inscriptions) that mark the south side of the main plaza.

The Temple of the Skull is only partially preserved, but it has the typical temple form of a central room with two lateral spaces, divided by pillars, and was probably covered by a vault. Its name derives from the presence of a stucco relief visible on one if its pillars representing a skull.

The temple rises over a five-level platform reachable by a central stairway. This temple was constructed over a series of earlier structures, the most ancient of which contained a burial with an offering of 700 pieces of jade greenstone.

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