Temple XIII (Tomb of the Red Queen)
Templo XIII – Tumba de la Reina Roja
A small pyramid beside the Temple of the Inscriptions, where a queen's tomb covered in cinnabar was discovered in 1994. It is one of the few tombs on the site that visitors can enter.
Temple XIII stands west of the Temple of the Inscriptions. In 1994 archaeologists found a stone sarcophagus inside, with the remains and grave goods covered in red cinnabar, hence the name 'Red Queen.' Research suggests she was the wife of the great king Pakal, possibly Ix Tzakab Ajaw. Visitors can walk through a passage into the front chamber of the tomb and see the sarcophagus through a railing, though the space is cramped and stuffy. The Red Queen's malachite mask and grave goods are displayed in the site museum. Next door is the Temple of the Skull (Temple XII), so the two can be visited together.
Opening hours
Open with the site; tomb passages occasionally closed temporarily
Nearby sights
- Temple of the Inscriptions
- Palenque Archaeological Site
- The Palace
- Cross Group
- Palenque National Park Jungle Trails & Murciélagos Falls
- Palenque Site Museum Alberto Ruz Lhuillier
- El Panchán
- Aluxes Ecopark