TEMPLES OF
SEA, EARTH,
AND SKY
THE TEMPLES of Palenque’s so-called Cross
Group each represent a different tier of the
Maya cosmos and one of the city’s three ma-
jor deities. The Temple of the Cross (above)
is sacred to the triad member known as GI
and to the realm of ocean. The Temple of
the Foliated Cross was dedicated to GII,
known as Unen K’awiil, associated with the
earthly realm of rain, crops, and the rulers of
Palenque. As its name suggests, the Temple
of the Sun was linked with the heavens, and
its GIII god is associated with the Sun Jaguar
deity, and war.TEMPLE OF THE CROSS,
IMAGINED WITH ITS ORIGINAL
BRIGHT PAINTFLY HIGH
Found on a tomb
altar, this clay figure
may represent
a high official of
Palenque or its ajaw.
It wears a helmet
in the likeness of
a bird. Powerful
figures in Palenque
were known to
impersonate birds,
perhaps to associate
themselves with the
gods of the sky.
BRIDGEMAN/ACIILLUSTRATION: TRASANCOS 3D