East Side of Chicanna Structure XX

History of Chicanna

The early history of Chicanna reveals a simple community steadily growing. Then it erected several incredible buildings. So who built Chicanna and why?

Chicanna Structure VI with its Roof Comb

Chicanna Structure VI

With its carved façade and roof comb, Chicanna Structure VI appears to be a temple, but the rooms added over later centuries raise questions over its use.

Chicanna Structure III

Chicanna Structure III

Chicanna Structure III spans the north side of Group A and was repeatedly developed from 640AD to 1040AD – but it is curiously different to the other structures

Chicanna Archaeological Site

Chicanna

The ruins of Chicanna are a testament to the craftsmanship and artistry of the Maya, its Monster Mouth temples rank among the wonders of the ancient world.

Palenque Temple XIX Platform Relief South

Palenque: Temple XIX

Temple XIX is home to the most incredible carvings found at Palenque and accompany the detailed story of Ahkal Mo’ Nahb and the birth of the gods

Monument 160 in the Tonina Museum

Brief History of Tonina

The fragmented history of Tonina has been gleaned from its scattered and broken monuments, which suggest it was among the most powerful cities of the Maya.

Palace of the Frets/Grecas at Tonina

Palacio de las Grecas

The huge stepped fret motifs found on Tonina’s Palacio de las Grecas remain a mystery, however they were probably designed to broadcast the city’s belief in a lifecycle, or spiral, of violence and death.

Palace of the Underworld at Tonina

Tonina: Palace of the Underworld

Serving a dark ritual purpose, the eerie Palace of the Underworld is a mysterious labyrinth of 11 passageways that weave beneath Tonina’s pyramid acropolis.

Sacrificial Altar and Ballcourt 1 at Tonina

Tonina: The Great Plaza

The Great Plaza at Tonina is the first area you enter, before ascending 7 levels to the heavens. Here on Platform 1 though, things are still very much in the depths of the underworld.

Tonina

The Maya city of Tonina is a fascinating puzzle. At its heart, a 72m pyramid rises to the heavens encoded with symbolism and covered in mysterious temples.