Tomb of the Red Queen of Palenque

Structure 23 – Lintel 24

Lintel 24 was found on Structure 23 and depicts Lady K’ab’al Xook performing the sacred bloodletting ritual by pulling a thorned rope through a piercing in her tongue and blood can be seen scrolling around her mouth. Her husband, king Shield Jaguar II, holds a flaming torch that will be used to set fire to the blooded paper to produce the vision serpent.

The lintel is made from limestone and traces of red and blue paint can still be seen.

Bloodletting sacrifice on Lintel 24, Structure 23 at Yaxchilan