Palenque - The Temple of the Skull

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The Temple of the Skull

By Dorothy Bell Photography by Bill Bell

Also Known as Temple XII and Temple of the Dead Moon

The Temple of the Skull is the usually the first structure you see when you follow the path from the ticket booth along the path to the site. It is the far right of what appears to be four distinct structures. At closer look you can see the distinct Temple of the Inscriptions. The Temple of the Red Queen and Temple of the Skull share a long rectangular platform giving false appearance of three additional structures.

The Temple of the Red Queen and Temple of the Skull were both built on a large platform in the 8th century; built upon layers of other buildings dated a hundred years earlier. As with most Palenque pyramids a large staircase leads up to rooms at the top. Archeologists believe this structure was a sanctuary and was colored red and blue.

The Temple of the Skull is named after the one remaining decoration on a pillar. It is a stucco relief of a defleshed rabbit sometimes interpreted as the symbol of the city. At he base a vault was found with some human bone, and a large collection of 700 pieces jade jewelry. Jade was only found in the Motagua River in Guatemala; only the Mayan elite wore jade jewelry of had jade objects.

The Temple of the Skull