PHOTO ARCHIVE

Images, maps
and visual records.

A selected archive supporting the narrative of the author and the collection.

COMPARATIVE TIMELINE

Four topics. One changing visual memory.

Across four themes, this archive compares how the same Palenque monuments were recorded by different explorers, artists and archaeologists. The compact timeline makes shifts in observation, interpretation and documentation easy to follow.

THEME 1 OF 4

The Tablet of the Temple of the Sun

This famous relief from Palenque depicts a royal succession and the transfer of power.

The RulersOn the left, King K'inich K'an Joy Chitam II stands atop a captive warrior. On the right, his father, the great King K'inich Janaab' Pakal I, presents him with the royal crown.
The CenterA sacred sun mask emblem is surrounded by celestial and serpent motifs.
The HieroglyphsThe surrounding glyph blocks document the exact historical date and genealogy of this power transition.

Different records of the same object

THEME 2 OF 4

The Palace Tower of Palenque

A compact comparison of one of Palenque’s most iconic buildings, traced through drawings and photographs across more than three centuries.

Unique ArchitectureUnlike typical low-slung Maya structures, the Palace Tower is a distinctive multi-story square tower, often compared to a pagoda or watchtower.
LocationIt stands within the main Palace complex at the ancient Maya site of Palenque.
Function & HistoryIt is often believed to have served as an astronomical observatory or a lookout tower for elite rulers. Its tiered design made it one of the most recognizable landmarks in Mesoamerican archaeology.

Different records of the same object

THEME 3 OF 4

The Stucco Relief from the Palace of Palenque

This famous relief scene shows how a single courtly image was copied, redrawn and documented over time.

The Central FigureA standing ruler or noble figure wears an elaborate feathered headdress and ornate regalia while holding a tall ceremonial staff.
The AttendantsTwo smaller figures kneel on either side, looking upward toward the central figure.
The SettingSome records isolate the figures, while others preserve the relief within its original architectural frame inside the Palace.

Different records of the same object

Armendariz 1787 record of the stucco relief — Armendariz 1787

Plate from Oaxaca 1810 record of the stucco relief — Plate from Oaxaca 1810

Waldeck 1822 record of the stucco relief — Waldeck 1822

Galindo 1831 record of the stucco relief — Galindo 1831

Waldeck 1832/33 documented record of the stucco relief — Waldeck 1832/33

Caddy 1839 record of the stucco relief — Caddy 1839

Catherwood 1840 record of the stucco relief — Catherwood 1840

Maudslay 1889-1902 photographic record of the stucco relief — Maudslay 1889-1902

THEME 4 OF 4

Pakal, the Jaguar Throne and Royal Accession

These images bring together historical drawings, lithographs and present-day photographs to explain one of Palenque’s most important royal images: the accession of K’inich Janaab’ Pakal. The earlier records reconstruct the composition in greater detail, while the photographs show how much of the original stucco relief has been lost through weathering and erosion.

The Accession SceneThe composition is associated with the Oval Palace Tablet in House E of the Palace. Pakal is shown as a young ruler seated on a symbolic double-headed jaguar throne. His mother, Queen Sak K’uk’, presents him with an ornate warrior headdress or insignia of rulership, marking his accession in 615 CE, when he was only twelve years old.
The Jaguar Throne and PakalThe jaguar was a powerful symbol of royal authority, strength, night and the underworld. Here the double-headed jaguar throne emphasizes Pakal’s status as ruler. K’inich Janaab’ Pakal later presided over a long period of cultural, artistic and architectural flourishing at Palenque, and many of the city’s best-known monuments were created during his reign and under his sons.
From Palace Image to Royal TombPakal is also closely associated with the Temple of the Inscriptions, where his tomb was discovered in 1952 by the Mexican archaeologist Alberto Ruz Lhuillier. The burial contained the famous carved sarcophagus lid—often interpreted as showing the ruler’s passage between cosmic realms—and his celebrated jade funerary mask. Seen together, the records in this sequence connect a damaged palace image with the wider visual and political legacy of Palenque’s best-known ruler.

Historical reconstructions and surviving traces of the same royal image

Castañeda 1, 1808 record — Castañeda 1 1808

Castañeda 2, 1808 record — Castañeda 2 1808

Armendariz 1820 record — Armendariz 1820

Waldeck outline study of the King on the Jaguar Throne — Waldeck 1822

Waldeck documented interpretation of the King on the Jaguar Throne — Waldeck 1832

Waldeck lithograph of the King on the Jaguar Throne — Waldeck 1838

Present-day photograph of the weathered surviving stucco relief associated with Pakal and the jaguar throne — Current state — surviving stucco relief

Present-day detail photograph of the weathered stucco remains associated with Pakal and the jaguar throne — Current state — surviving details of the relief

THE VISUAL RECORD

Documents, places
and moments in layers.

The archive brings together personal photographs, maps, drawings and carefully identified visual reconstructions. The sequence opens in the middle: drag the collection in either direction or use the arrows to explore it.