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Palenque: Eternal City of the Maya
The story of the city's rediscovery, deep in the forest-clad mountains of southeastern Mexico, told with panache by two leading Maya scholars. Sunday, June 15, 1952. Having spent four years clearing a secret passage inside Palenque's Temple of the Inscriptions, Mexican archaeologist Alberto Ruz gazed into a vaulted chamber. There, beneath a gigantic carved stone block, he would make a spectacular the intact burial of King Pakal, complete with jade jewelry and an exquisite burial mask.
Pakal was one of the greatest ancient rulers and the most prominent among a long line of monarchs who held sway at Palenque from AD 300 to 800. This "queen of Maya cities," as Palenque has been called, fell into ruin and was abandoned along with other great urban centers when Maya civilization suffered a mysterious collapse more than 1000 years ago.
Through the eyes of David and George Stuart, we travel with pioneer artists and archaeologists from the eighteenth century on as they rediscovered Palenque and attempted, in the oppressive tropical heat, to document the city's graceful and ornate palaces, temples, bas-reliefs, and hieroglyphic inscriptions. These inscriptions lay largely unread until, in the late twentieth century, major breakthroughs in decipherment revealed Palenque's history. David Stuart, one of the leading decipherers, portrays a lost world of palace intrigue, of brilliant architects, of gods and revered ancestors.
Today Palenque, proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a place of new reverence and relevance for millions of modern Maya, New Age spiritualists, and all those fascinated by the history of the Maya.
Pakal was one of the greatest ancient rulers and the most prominent among a long line of monarchs who held sway at Palenque from AD 300 to 800. This "queen of Maya cities," as Palenque has been called, fell into ruin and was abandoned along with other great urban centers when Maya civilization suffered a mysterious collapse more than 1000 years ago.
Through the eyes of David and George Stuart, we travel with pioneer artists and archaeologists from the eighteenth century on as they rediscovered Palenque and attempted, in the oppressive tropical heat, to document the city's graceful and ornate palaces, temples, bas-reliefs, and hieroglyphic inscriptions. These inscriptions lay largely unread until, in the late twentieth century, major breakthroughs in decipherment revealed Palenque's history. David Stuart, one of the leading decipherers, portrays a lost world of palace intrigue, of brilliant architects, of gods and revered ancestors.
Today Palenque, proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a place of new reverence and relevance for millions of modern Maya, New Age spiritualists, and all those fascinated by the history of the Maya.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published October 20, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 19, 2023
I read this book in one sitting - and by the end, I had an actual smile on my face. This book really is an unexpected masterpiece.
Fascinatingly, the book doesn't begin with the ancient history of Palenque, but rather with its modern archaeology. We follow explorers, officials, and vagabonds throughout the 19th and 20th centuries as they uncover more and more of this abandoned city. I wasn't sure at first, but this approach quickly grew on me. It was fascinating to read what people thought about the city, the circumstances by which they arrived at this archaeological site, and even to see the art they they created about it - as well as the gradual discovery of more and more finds.
The second half of the book (about 60%) then circles back to the Pre-Classic Mesoamerica, and we follow the rise and fall of Palenque. I was surprised at how well the author humanized each king, despite even their names being unrecognizable at first. By the end of each chapter I felt that I knew the monarch's reign well, and it was fascinating to read about war, diplomacy, and high society. By the end the author concludes with the decline and abandonment of Palenque as well as some theories regarding its final years.
I got this because it was on the bargain shelf, but this was actually a really good book. If the cover strikes you, read it. On paper it's a long book - and in person it's physically a clunker - but it is actually a fast read, not dense at all. It is also incredibly current with great notes and appendices at the end.
Fascinatingly, the book doesn't begin with the ancient history of Palenque, but rather with its modern archaeology. We follow explorers, officials, and vagabonds throughout the 19th and 20th centuries as they uncover more and more of this abandoned city. I wasn't sure at first, but this approach quickly grew on me. It was fascinating to read what people thought about the city, the circumstances by which they arrived at this archaeological site, and even to see the art they they created about it - as well as the gradual discovery of more and more finds.
The second half of the book (about 60%) then circles back to the Pre-Classic Mesoamerica, and we follow the rise and fall of Palenque. I was surprised at how well the author humanized each king, despite even their names being unrecognizable at first. By the end of each chapter I felt that I knew the monarch's reign well, and it was fascinating to read about war, diplomacy, and high society. By the end the author concludes with the decline and abandonment of Palenque as well as some theories regarding its final years.
I got this because it was on the bargain shelf, but this was actually a really good book. If the cover strikes you, read it. On paper it's a long book - and in person it's physically a clunker - but it is actually a fast read, not dense at all. It is also incredibly current with great notes and appendices at the end.
September 1, 2013
The classical Mayan city of Palenque in Mexico, which flourished from 500 to 700 CE, is dominated by the Temple of Inscriptions set on top of a great pyramid. In 1948, Mexican archaeologist Alberto Ruz Lhuillier noticed something that no one had noticed before, that the stone slabs that made up the temple floor had holes drilled into them, allowing for ropes to be passed through them and the slabs hoisted up. When the slabs were removed, they found a staircase that led deep into the interior of the pyramid. It took them two years to remove the rubble and fill. When they did, they found a tomb. It contained a large, elaborately carved sarcophagus with a skeleton inside that was covered in jade.
Interestingly, scholars hadn’t considered that pyramids of the Maya might serve the same function as pyramids of the ancient Egyptians, as tombs of the elite. The monumental scale of the tomb beneath the Temple of Inscriptions and its sumptuous grave goods suggested a royal burial. But at the time of the discovery, the Mayan system of writing (called glyphs) had not yet been deciphered, and so there was little to no information available regarding the identity of the person buried there. Since then, as the result of the work of dedicated scholars including the author, David Stuart, the glyphs can now be read and we know from carved texts inside the Temple of Inscriptions that this is the tomb of the great king K'inich Janaab' Pakal, who ruled Palenque for 68 years in the 7th century CE at the height of the city’s prestige and power.
I visited Palenque over 30 years ago (when you could still pretty much have the place to yourself) and it made a deep impression on me. Lush dense tropical forest rings the site, and the exotic butterflies are the size of your fist. At the time, most scholars thought the cities were not cities per se, but ceremonial centers only, and that rather than ruled by kings, they were presided over by philosopher-scholar-astronomer-priests whose pursuits were intellectual and spiritual rather than worldly. Many scholars also believed that the Maya were essentially a peaceful people in spite of the fact that the iconography of their temples, tombs, palaces, and ball courts suggested otherwise. Advances being made at that time in deciphering the Maya system of writing were already beginning to rapidly change all that, revealing a society like most human societies, ruled by a powerful elite engaged in warfare, dynastic struggles, and shifting political alliances.
This book provides a fascinating, in-depth history of the city, beginning with its re-discovery in the modern era. For those who may not have the time or inclination to read the book, I highly recommend the National Geographic Live video of a talk by author-archaeologist-epigrapher David Stuart and his father George Stuart at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCs86Z... Besides being experts on Palenque, the Stuarts have a deep sort of humanity about them that is very appealing.
Interestingly, scholars hadn’t considered that pyramids of the Maya might serve the same function as pyramids of the ancient Egyptians, as tombs of the elite. The monumental scale of the tomb beneath the Temple of Inscriptions and its sumptuous grave goods suggested a royal burial. But at the time of the discovery, the Mayan system of writing (called glyphs) had not yet been deciphered, and so there was little to no information available regarding the identity of the person buried there. Since then, as the result of the work of dedicated scholars including the author, David Stuart, the glyphs can now be read and we know from carved texts inside the Temple of Inscriptions that this is the tomb of the great king K'inich Janaab' Pakal, who ruled Palenque for 68 years in the 7th century CE at the height of the city’s prestige and power.
I visited Palenque over 30 years ago (when you could still pretty much have the place to yourself) and it made a deep impression on me. Lush dense tropical forest rings the site, and the exotic butterflies are the size of your fist. At the time, most scholars thought the cities were not cities per se, but ceremonial centers only, and that rather than ruled by kings, they were presided over by philosopher-scholar-astronomer-priests whose pursuits were intellectual and spiritual rather than worldly. Many scholars also believed that the Maya were essentially a peaceful people in spite of the fact that the iconography of their temples, tombs, palaces, and ball courts suggested otherwise. Advances being made at that time in deciphering the Maya system of writing were already beginning to rapidly change all that, revealing a society like most human societies, ruled by a powerful elite engaged in warfare, dynastic struggles, and shifting political alliances.
This book provides a fascinating, in-depth history of the city, beginning with its re-discovery in the modern era. For those who may not have the time or inclination to read the book, I highly recommend the National Geographic Live video of a talk by author-archaeologist-epigrapher David Stuart and his father George Stuart at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCs86Z... Besides being experts on Palenque, the Stuarts have a deep sort of humanity about them that is very appealing.
May 13, 2022
This book is probably best suited for persons intrigued by ancient civilizations and Mayan culture in particular. The first few chapters deal with Pelenque’s modern day discovery and early research. I found the lengthy description of early contributors a bit dry and uninteresting. However, that all changed upon arriving at the chapters concerning the ruling kings, their architectural achievements, how Mayan beliefs affected the layout of the city, the buildings in particular, etc., along with the distinct correlation of Pelenque’s architecture to the rule and greatness of these individual kings. That part was fascinating along with the purported theory of what led to the precipitous decline and ultimate collapse of the civilization. The photos are astounding and the drawings of the hieroglyphs are amazing, although page locations of plates and figures are missing from the text making it difficult in places to find them.
September 15, 2020
Probably for Maya geeks only, but the wonderful illustrations & photos should appeal to most everyone. This is an in depth look of a single Mayan city. A city I finally was able to experience first hand in 2017. From that experience I concur that it is definitely worthy of that singular look. The father son team that authored it are absolutely tops in their field. The son, David, was a wunderkind, who toddled amid the ruins of this magnificent civilization, while his father did his field work. By his early teens he was presenting groundbreaking works, including some of the biggest leaps in deciphering Mayan glyphs, the Holy Grail of Maya archaeology. Two greater authorities cannot be found. I enjoyed the insight it brought to my all too brief experience in Palenque. I’m sure I will continue to refer back to it often.
March 13, 2024
A charming and mysterious research of Palenque!
June 15, 2013
There is no better, more thorough history of the Mayan site of Palenque than George and David Stuart’s "Palenque: Eternal City of the Maya." The Stuart’s, both experts on the Maya in general and the site of Palenque in particular, manage to condense their expansive knowledge of the site into a relatively brief 243 pages that cover everything from architecture to royal family lineages.
Having said that, the book is not without its flaws. First, the book does not start with the Mayan history of the site. I expected to jump right in and immediately begin learning about the ancient Mayan kings who lived at Palenque and what life was like at the site. Unfortunately the book begins with the history of the European discovery of Palenque after it had been abandoned in the jungle for 1000 years. It next goes on to the history of the archaeological work at the site. It’s not until page 106, over a third of the way through the book, that the reader is finally introduced to the Maya themselves who built and lived at Palenque.
I have a more in-depth review at my website: Review: Palenque- Eternal City of the Maya
Having said that, the book is not without its flaws. First, the book does not start with the Mayan history of the site. I expected to jump right in and immediately begin learning about the ancient Mayan kings who lived at Palenque and what life was like at the site. Unfortunately the book begins with the history of the European discovery of Palenque after it had been abandoned in the jungle for 1000 years. It next goes on to the history of the archaeological work at the site. It’s not until page 106, over a third of the way through the book, that the reader is finally introduced to the Maya themselves who built and lived at Palenque.
I have a more in-depth review at my website: Review: Palenque- Eternal City of the Maya
February 23, 2015
I loved this book. I used it for research for my novel "The Strangest Thing," which involves the US President's disappearance while deep inside Palenque's Temple of the Inscriptions. I've been to Palenque twice and I keep this book close at hand always. The place has far less tourists than many, partially because of its remote location deep in southern Mexico, but it is one of the most beautiful Mayan sites I've visited.
This book is non-fiction but has the intrigue and suspense of a novel. It's hard to put down once you've gotten into it. Highly recommended!
This book is non-fiction but has the intrigue and suspense of a novel. It's hard to put down once you've gotten into it. Highly recommended!
June 18, 2013
Detailed and readable account of the history of Palenque. Very nice illustrations. Some thought-provoking ideas, such as the ancient Mayas having foreknowledge of dynastic cycles coming to completion. They base this on inverse naming of Palenque rulers with Janaab Pakal (greatest ruler of Palenque, most famous Maya "king") as the central point. After Pakal, the ruler names were reverse order of the preceding ones. Curious . . the Maya had metaphysical ways of knowing.
October 6, 2025
I visited Palenque in 1976. It was a hippie trip. This book is a deep dive into what’s known about what is thought to be the apex of Mayan art and architecture. When I was there one could descend and view Pakal’s tomb. Right out of Indiana Jones. I have visited most of the Mayan sites. This is my favorite.
November 2, 2009
Liked a lot, although tough to read and a lot of information packed in there.
July 19, 2012
david stuart os by far the greatest living mayanist, anyone into the classic maya need to read this title
November 20, 2014
Wonderful history of Palenque. There's nothing out these like this that I know of. Authorative and incredibly intereresting.
June 21, 2016
The expertise is undeniable and the material is compelling in its own right, but the organization and overall editing of the book was disappointing.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews