Pre-Hispanic City and National
Park of Palenque (1987)
Mexico
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A prime example of a Mayan sanctuary of the classical period, Palenque was at
its height between A.D. 500 and 700, when its influence extended throughout the
basin of the Usumacinta river.
The elegance and craftsmanship of the buildings, as well as the lightness of the sculpted reliefs with their Mayan mythological themes, attest to the creative genius of this civilization.
Palenque is an ancient city of Mexico, located in what is now Chiapas State, near the village of Palenque. The city, dating from the classic period (ad300-900) of the Maya civilization, was buried in a dense tropical forest. |
| The ruins consist of basal platforms supporting pyramids of cut stone, surmounted by stone temples with mansard roofs. Most of the buildings are one story high. Walls have relief figures and hieroglyphic inscriptions, which relate events in royal history.
The principal structure, known as the Palace, 69.5 m (228 ft) long, stands on a truncated pyramid. An arched bridge and a subterranean waterway also remain.
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Sources and links:
Other World Heritage sites in Mexico (on this website). Inactive links are not described on stamps. Please refer to the UNESCO-listing, Mexico-section, for further information about the individual properties.
Revised 08 aug 2006 |
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