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[dramatic music playing]
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[steve] Palenque.
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A stunning city
Built by the ancient maya
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Where mysterious temples
Emerge
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From the tropical jungle.
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[rodrigo speaking]
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[steve]
Ancient inscriptions reveal
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This place is once the heart
Of a powerful kingdom
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Ruled by legendary kings...
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And queens.
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[rodrigo speaking]
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[steve] Who are these queens?
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And why are they so important?
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What can investigations here
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Reveal about the role of women
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In the magnificent
Maya civilization?
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[steve] Today,
Experts have rare access
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To investigate
This extraordinary city,
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To decode ancient clues
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And hunt for answers
To the ultimate question.
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Why was it abandoned?
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[steve]
In the search for answers,
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We digitally deconstruct
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This spectacular maya city.
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We tunnel inside tombs
And temples,
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Come face to face
With long dead royalty,
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And decipher
Cryptic inscriptions
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To unearth the truth
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About this mysterious
Lost city.
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This is the ancient city
Of palenque
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In southern mexico,
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One of the most
Important cities
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In the maya world
1,400 years ago.
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[steve]
Hidden in the dense jungle
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Are mighty stone monuments.
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There's a grand palace
With a 60-foot tower
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Aligned with the heavens.
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There are colossal pyramids
Up to 70 feet tall
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And 200 feet wide,
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Built from limestone blocks
Weighing up to 15 tons each.
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In their prime,
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They're painted
A glorious red.
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This ancient city
Covers more than 4,000 acres.
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It's a shining jewel
Of the maya empire.
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How and why do the maya build
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These giant structures here
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14 centuries ago?
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Rodrigo liendo
Has been studying
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The ancient maya
For more than three decades.
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He investigates why they build
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These extraordinary monuments.
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[rodrigo speaking]
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[steve] Rodrigo searches
For clues about the maya
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In palenque's main square.
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[rodrigo speaking]
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[steve] Overlooking the plaza
Is a towering pyramid.
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It's the most impressive
Building in the city.
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Next to it stands
A smaller version.
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Both are built entirely
By hand.
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[rodrigo speaking]
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[steve] But the idea
That these pyramids
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Are simply built
To hold up temples
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Is soon challenged.
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When archaeologists tunnel
Into the smaller monument,
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They discover an entrance
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That leads into the heart
Of the pyramid.
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Behind a blocked doorway,
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They find a vaulted
Burial chamber
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With a limestone coffin
At its center
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And two skeletons
On either side.
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Inside the coffin,
Another skeleton,
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Covered in a blood red pigment
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And adorned
With precious objects
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Of jade and pearl
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Reserved for maya royalty.
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Who is the red ruler
Buried deep
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In this magnificent tomb?
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Rodrigo explores the scene.
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A dark tunnel leads deep
Into the temple's interior.
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[rodrigo speaking]
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[steve]
At the end of the tunnel,
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Rodrigo locates the tomb.
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Inside, he finds the huge
Limestone sarcophagus,
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Carved from a single
Piece of rock.
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[rodrigo speaking]
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[steve] In maya society,
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Only the highest of the elite
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Are buried in a sarcophagus
As lavish as this one.
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This person is clearly
Very important.
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Investigators carefully
Remove the skeleton
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And send it to a lab
For testing.
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Rodrigo believes the results
Hold important clues.
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Anthropological analysis
Of the bones
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Reveals this is the body
Of a woman.
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It's an astonishing discovery.
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This is the first time
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A maya woman has ever been
Found in a sarcophagus
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Inside a tomb
Befitting a king.
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Rodrigo searches for more
Clues to her identity.
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[steve] Isotope analysis
Of her teeth reveals
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Something else surprising.
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The woman is not
From palenque.
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For an outsider to be buried
In a lavish tomb like this
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Adds to the intrigue.
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[rodrigo speaking]
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[steve]
As well as being important,
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This woman was clearly
Extremely wealthy.
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But what about
The strange red powder
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That covers the bones?
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[rodrigo speaking]
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[steve] The blood red cinnabar
Is not the only evidence
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Of religious rituals
Left inside
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The mystery woman's tomb.
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Investigators unearth two
Even more chilling offerings.
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On either
Side of the sarcophagus
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Lie the skeletons
Of a 10-year-old boy
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And of a 30-year-old woman.
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Cut marks on the woman's chest
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Are signs
She is stabbed to death,
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Most likely
In a ritual ceremony.
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And the boy,
Probably a servant,
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Meets the same fate,
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Sacrificed by the priests
Of the temple.
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Their bodies are placed
In the tomb
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Of the mystery woman,
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An honor only reserved
For royalty.
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Thanks to her status
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And the blood red cinnabar
On her bones,
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Archaeologists nickname her
The red queen.
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But who is she?
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The stunning offerings
Found in her tomb
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Are now preserved
In palenque's site museum.
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Experts date them
To the seventh century ad.
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This means she dies
During the reign
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Of a great king of palenque.
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[rodrigo speaking]
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[steve] Tz'akbu ajaw
Is the mysterious red queen.
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Clever detective work
Helps archaeologists
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Decipher her identity.
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But among all the rulers
Of this city,
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Why is she so important?
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Could palenque's other temples
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Hide even more royal secrets?
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[steve] The spectacular
Maya city of palenque.
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Here, experts unearth
The lavish burial
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Of the mysterious red queen.
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Why is she so important?
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A clue may lie
Inside the towering monument
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Standing alongside her tomb.
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At the top of the temple,
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A secret 100-foot long
Stairway
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Winds down
To the heart of the pyramid.
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At the bottom,
A triangular stone
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Blocks the access
To a burial chamber.
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In its center,
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A 15-ton limestone
Sarcophagus.
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Under two heavy stone lids
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Lies a skeleton of a man.
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Around him
Are small fragments of jade
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That form an eerie death mask.
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Who is the man
Behind the mask?
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Rodrigo searches for clues
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To the identity of the person
Buried inside.
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[rodrigo speaking]
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[steve]
At the top of the temple,
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Rodrigo finds a narrow room.
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Its walls covered
With intricate designs.
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[rodrigo speaking]
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[steve]
What do these glyphs say?
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Can they reveal
Who is the magnificent person
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Buried inside the temple?
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[rodrigo speaking]
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[steve] This monumental temple
Is built specifically
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As king pakal's
Final resting place.
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The smaller one next door
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Is for his esteemed wife,
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Tz'akbu ajaw,
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The red queen.
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Pakal is the most
Important king
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In the history of palenque.
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That's why both
He and his wife
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Are buried
In such lavish tombs.
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But the inscriptions reveal
Surprising details
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Of this great ruler.
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[steve] The glyphs show pakal
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Is not the son
Of the previous king.
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So how does he become
The greatest king
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This city has ever known?
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Rodrigo heads
To the royal palace complex
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To investigate.
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[rodrigo speaking]
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[steve] In one of the rooms,
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Rodrigo finds
A striking oval carving.
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[rodrigo speaking]
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[steve] Who is the woman
Handing the crown to pakal
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And what role does she play
In his rise to power
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At such a young age?
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Rodrigo believes clues may lie
In the thick jungle
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Half a mile
From the city's center.
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He hunts for a building
Known as the forgotten temple.
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[rodrigo speaking]
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[steve] Inscriptions reveal
This forgotten temple
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Is built by pakal himself.
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He dedicates it to two people,
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A woman named lady sak k'uk'
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And a man called k'an mo' hix.
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[rodrigo speaking]
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[steve] As mother
To the city's greatest king,
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Lady sak k'uk is another
Important queen of palenque.
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How does she help her son
Gain the crown?
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[dramatic music playing]
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[steve] Sak k'uk becomes
Palenque's ruler in 612 ad.
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00:16:20,067 --> 00:16:22,533
But how she rises to power
Is unclear.
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There's a theory
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That when rival kings
Attacked palenque
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A year earlier,
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They kill off the male heirs
To the throne.
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When palenque's king dies,
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He leaves a power vacuum.
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Sak k'uk,
Who's possibly his niece,
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Steps up and takes the throne.
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Three years into her reign,
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Sak k'uk cedes the throne
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To her 12-year old son, pakal
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Now old enough to become king.
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When pakal comes to power,
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Palenque is still in disarray
And vulnerable.
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He needs to quickly establish
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An unshakable claim
To the throne.
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[steve]
Pakal claims his legitimacy
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00:17:47,067 --> 00:17:49,367
By belonging
To this sacred bloodline.
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He may be palenque's
Greatest king,
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00:17:54,233 --> 00:17:57,733
But his success is thanks
To two important women,
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His mother, lady sak k'uk,
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Who restores the dynastic line
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And his wife, the red queen,
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00:18:05,500 --> 00:18:07,100
Who rules beside him.
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00:18:08,333 --> 00:18:11,500
But can inscriptions
Inside pakal's tomb
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00:18:11,533 --> 00:18:15,400
Reveal clues
To a third maya queen?
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00:18:15,433 --> 00:18:17,100
How does she pave the way
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00:18:17,133 --> 00:18:19,433
For these women's rise
To power?
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[steve] In mexico,
Archeologists investigate
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A magnificent maya city,
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Palenque.
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00:18:40,967 --> 00:18:43,733
It's home
To two important queens
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00:18:43,767 --> 00:18:46,767
Whose influence
Changes the city's fortunes.
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00:18:48,267 --> 00:18:50,633
How did they become
So powerful
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00:18:50,667 --> 00:18:53,267
In what's traditionally
A man's world?
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00:18:55,233 --> 00:18:57,167
In king pakal's tomb...
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00:18:59,067 --> 00:19:01,367
His elaborately engraved
Sarcophagus
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00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:03,200
Could hold an important clue.
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00:19:05,167 --> 00:19:07,333
The 12-foot lid shows pakal
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00:19:07,367 --> 00:19:10,067
Emerging up
From the underworld,
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00:19:10,067 --> 00:19:11,767
Being reborn.
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00:19:13,867 --> 00:19:17,233
He is carried
By the sacred tree of life
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00:19:17,267 --> 00:19:19,833
That connects the worlds
Of the dead and the living
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00:19:19,867 --> 00:19:21,567
With the heavens.
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00:19:24,433 --> 00:19:26,900
The sides of the sarcophagus
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00:19:26,933 --> 00:19:29,900
Show his powerful ancestors
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00:19:29,933 --> 00:19:32,500
And remarkably
A mysterious woman
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Is among them,
262
00:19:33,933 --> 00:19:35,900
But it's not his mother.
263
00:19:35,933 --> 00:19:37,800
So who is she?
264
00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:44,200
Felix kupprat is an expert
In maya hieroglyphs.
265
00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:48,933
He believes clues
To this woman's identity
266
00:19:48,967 --> 00:19:52,167
Lie in the inscriptions
From king pakal's temple.
267
00:19:53,233 --> 00:19:55,700
He takes a closer look
At detailed drawings
268
00:19:55,733 --> 00:19:57,867
Of the glyphic writing.
269
00:20:08,767 --> 00:20:11,567
[steve] One name catches
Felix's attention.
270
00:20:12,933 --> 00:20:15,933
[felix speaking]
271
00:20:45,467 --> 00:20:47,033
[steve]
The text is clear evidence
272
00:20:47,067 --> 00:20:49,100
That before pakal's mother,
273
00:20:49,133 --> 00:20:52,400
Lady sak k'uk rises
To prominence in the city,
274
00:20:53,700 --> 00:20:56,533
Palenque is ruled
By an earlier queen,
275
00:20:56,567 --> 00:20:58,500
Lady yohl ik'nal.
276
00:21:00,167 --> 00:21:03,133
[felix speaking]
277
00:21:15,467 --> 00:21:17,633
[steve] In maya society,
Traditionally,
278
00:21:17,667 --> 00:21:20,067
Only men can inherit
The throne.
279
00:21:21,167 --> 00:21:24,300
But the previous king dies
Without a male heir.
280
00:21:25,767 --> 00:21:28,367
So in 583 ad,
281
00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:32,067
Yohl ik'nal becomes
The first queen of palenque.
282
00:21:34,067 --> 00:21:36,500
[felix speaking]
283
00:21:53,767 --> 00:21:56,067
[steve] Not only
Does she overturn tradition
284
00:21:56,067 --> 00:21:59,333
And become palenque's
First female ruler,
285
00:21:59,367 --> 00:22:02,267
She holds on to power
For over two decades.
286
00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:05,067
How does she do it?
287
00:22:06,300 --> 00:22:09,067
Evidence of lady yohl ik'nal's
Resilience
288
00:22:09,067 --> 00:22:11,067
Appears
On another inscription.
289
00:22:11,067 --> 00:22:15,267
From a staircase
Inside palenque's palace.
290
00:22:15,300 --> 00:22:17,633
[felix speaking]
291
00:22:34,367 --> 00:22:36,767
[steve]
In the time of yohl ik'nal,
292
00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:39,700
Palenque competes
With rival city states
293
00:22:39,733 --> 00:22:41,767
And their fearsome kings.
294
00:22:44,833 --> 00:22:47,567
Yohl ik'nal transforms
Palenque,
295
00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:49,600
Building impressive monuments
296
00:22:49,633 --> 00:22:51,500
And expanding the city,
297
00:22:51,533 --> 00:22:54,433
But this also draws
Unwanted attention.
298
00:22:56,933 --> 00:23:00,067
The snake kings
From nearby calakmul
299
00:23:00,067 --> 00:23:03,200
Attacked palenque in 599 ad
300
00:23:03,233 --> 00:23:05,433
To curb yohl ik'nal's power.
301
00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:09,200
They defeat palenque
302
00:23:09,233 --> 00:23:11,600
Leaving the city
Largely intact
303
00:23:11,633 --> 00:23:14,200
But taking scores
Of prisoners away.
304
00:23:18,467 --> 00:23:20,600
What happens to yohl ik'nal?
305
00:23:20,633 --> 00:23:23,233
And does palenque survive
This defeat?
306
00:23:26,100 --> 00:23:30,100
Back in the palace,
Rodrigo liendo investigates.
307
00:23:47,900 --> 00:23:50,067
[steve] When the snake kings
Attack palenque
308
00:23:50,067 --> 00:23:52,067
In 599 ad,
309
00:23:52,067 --> 00:23:53,967
Their ultimate goal
310
00:23:54,067 --> 00:23:56,933
Is to capture and kill
Queen yohl ik'nal,
311
00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:01,100
But remarkably
Inscriptions reveal
312
00:24:01,133 --> 00:24:04,100
She reigns until 604 ad.
313
00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:07,300
She survives this war
314
00:24:07,333 --> 00:24:09,633
And continues ruling palenque,
315
00:24:10,733 --> 00:24:12,367
An impressive feat.
316
00:24:14,867 --> 00:24:18,267
But palenque is left
Weakened and vulnerable,
317
00:24:18,300 --> 00:24:22,067
And in 611, the snake kings
Attack once again.
318
00:24:23,333 --> 00:24:27,467
[rodrigo speaking]
319
00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:38,067
[steve] But from the ashes
Of this broken city,
320
00:24:38,100 --> 00:24:40,200
A phoenix is about to rise.
321
00:24:40,233 --> 00:24:42,133
In 612,
322
00:24:42,167 --> 00:24:44,300
Lady sak k'uk takes power,
323
00:24:44,333 --> 00:24:46,700
Marking a fresh start
For palenque
324
00:24:46,733 --> 00:24:49,767
Before she hands the crown
Onto her son, pakal.
325
00:24:50,967 --> 00:24:54,333
Two determined maya queens
Overturn tradition
326
00:24:54,367 --> 00:24:56,800
And pave the way
For palenque's rise
327
00:24:56,833 --> 00:24:58,400
Under king pakal.
328
00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:03,533
What can a carving unearthed
Elsewhere in the city reveal
329
00:25:03,567 --> 00:25:05,833
About royal women?
330
00:25:05,867 --> 00:25:08,567
What other special role
Do queens play
331
00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:10,433
In palenque's success?
332
00:25:22,333 --> 00:25:25,400
[steve] The magnificent
Maya city of palenque,
333
00:25:26,867 --> 00:25:30,233
Thanks to the influence
Of three important queens,
334
00:25:30,267 --> 00:25:33,067
This city grows in size
And splendor.
335
00:25:35,433 --> 00:25:38,067
But the royal family
Has another important role
336
00:25:38,100 --> 00:25:40,200
To play in the city's success.
337
00:25:43,733 --> 00:25:46,733
Below the thick jungle canopy,
338
00:25:46,767 --> 00:25:48,900
Among the ruins of a temple,
339
00:25:50,067 --> 00:25:53,200
Archeologists discover
A broken stone panel.
340
00:25:55,300 --> 00:25:57,067
When they piece it together,
341
00:25:57,100 --> 00:25:58,900
They find a carving of a scene
342
00:25:58,933 --> 00:26:01,133
Showing king pakal
343
00:26:01,167 --> 00:26:03,200
Performing a blood ritual.
344
00:26:07,067 --> 00:26:10,100
He's pulling a pointed object
Towards his face.
345
00:26:13,300 --> 00:26:15,067
It's a stingray spine,
346
00:26:16,167 --> 00:26:18,300
A naturally razor-sharp blade
347
00:26:18,333 --> 00:26:19,900
To pierce his tongue.
348
00:26:21,167 --> 00:26:23,600
Why would the king perform
Such an act
349
00:26:23,633 --> 00:26:25,433
Of self-mutilation?
350
00:26:28,300 --> 00:26:30,300
Luis nunez investigates
351
00:26:30,333 --> 00:26:33,467
Why palenque's royals
Perform this ritual.
352
00:26:35,500 --> 00:26:38,567
Clues may lie
In bizarre artifacts
353
00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:40,500
Found in nearby temples.
354
00:26:51,700 --> 00:26:54,633
[steve] The maya use
Incense burners during rituals
355
00:26:54,667 --> 00:26:56,833
To interact with the gods.
356
00:26:56,867 --> 00:26:58,233
The designs depict
357
00:26:58,267 --> 00:27:00,867
The different deities
Involved.
358
00:27:02,267 --> 00:27:05,200
But although they're used
For burning incense,
359
00:27:05,233 --> 00:27:07,367
These beautiful
Sculpted creations
360
00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:10,067
Also carry
More gruesome offerings...
361
00:27:11,533 --> 00:27:13,467
Human blood.
362
00:27:36,333 --> 00:27:38,833
[steve] The blood
Must be given voluntarily
363
00:27:38,867 --> 00:27:40,733
To show the proper commitment.
364
00:27:42,167 --> 00:27:44,067
And not just by anyone,
365
00:27:44,067 --> 00:27:47,367
It has to be the top people
In society.
366
00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:09,633
[steve] The rulers of palenque
Perform this self-sacrifice
367
00:28:09,667 --> 00:28:12,100
During private
Bloodletting ceremonies.
368
00:28:13,867 --> 00:28:15,467
They used stingray spines
369
00:28:15,500 --> 00:28:17,667
Or obsidian blades
To draw blood
370
00:28:17,700 --> 00:28:20,267
From sensitive areas
Of their own bodies.
371
00:28:23,833 --> 00:28:27,667
It isn't only men who perform
This important ritual.
372
00:28:27,700 --> 00:28:30,167
Carvings found
At other maya sites reveal
373
00:28:30,200 --> 00:28:33,567
That women have
A vital role to play, too.
374
00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:36,600
[luis speaking]
375
00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:55,367
[steve] Why are the people
So determined
376
00:28:55,400 --> 00:28:57,500
To feed the gods?
377
00:28:57,533 --> 00:28:58,900
To find out,
378
00:28:58,933 --> 00:29:01,267
Luis investigates
A group of temples
379
00:29:01,300 --> 00:29:02,700
On the edge of the city.
380
00:29:03,733 --> 00:29:05,967
[luis speaking]
381
00:29:07,233 --> 00:29:08,967
[steve] Each one
Of the temples here
382
00:29:09,067 --> 00:29:10,900
Is dedicated
To one of the three
383
00:29:10,933 --> 00:29:13,367
Patron gods of palenque.
384
00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:15,067
Collectively they are known
385
00:29:15,067 --> 00:29:17,533
As the palenque triad.
386
00:29:17,567 --> 00:29:20,067
[luis speaking]
387
00:29:27,500 --> 00:29:29,467
[steve] The citizens
Of palenque believe
388
00:29:29,500 --> 00:29:32,900
Their patron gods support
And protect the city.
389
00:29:34,267 --> 00:29:37,700
These three gods are all born
From the mother goddess.
390
00:29:38,733 --> 00:29:41,100
She is the creator
And giver of life,
391
00:29:42,233 --> 00:29:44,400
The most important woman
Of all.
392
00:29:50,167 --> 00:29:53,067
Ix chel is the maya goddess
Of childbirth,
393
00:29:54,067 --> 00:29:56,633
And mother to all maya gods.
394
00:29:59,067 --> 00:30:02,233
Maya women
Seeking to bear children
395
00:30:02,267 --> 00:30:06,233
Travel 12 miles by canoe
To her shrine
396
00:30:06,267 --> 00:30:08,933
On the sacred island
Of cozumel.
397
00:30:10,300 --> 00:30:12,867
There, they consult an oracle,
398
00:30:12,900 --> 00:30:16,333
A priest hidden
In a large statue of ix chel
399
00:30:16,367 --> 00:30:19,567
To seek out their prospects
As mothers.
400
00:30:21,100 --> 00:30:23,167
The maya believe
That if they don't show
401
00:30:23,200 --> 00:30:25,533
The proper respect
To the gods,
402
00:30:25,567 --> 00:30:26,900
They will become angry
403
00:30:26,933 --> 00:30:28,867
And could destroy
Their society.
404
00:30:30,533 --> 00:30:32,733
[luis speaking]
405
00:31:02,233 --> 00:31:04,267
[steve] Does all
This dedicated worship
406
00:31:04,300 --> 00:31:07,467
Of its patron gods
Bring success to palenque?
407
00:31:10,333 --> 00:31:13,467
And what can a structure
Just outside the palace
408
00:31:13,500 --> 00:31:16,967
Reveal about life
For its citizens?
409
00:31:30,200 --> 00:31:31,833
[steve] Palenque,
410
00:31:31,867 --> 00:31:34,467
Three important queens
Set this city
411
00:31:34,500 --> 00:31:36,867
On the path to greatness,
412
00:31:36,900 --> 00:31:38,867
But how do palenque's
Rulers profit
413
00:31:38,900 --> 00:31:40,733
From the city's location?
414
00:31:44,067 --> 00:31:46,400
Buried right next
To the palace
415
00:31:46,433 --> 00:31:48,533
Lies a mysterious structure,
416
00:31:50,867 --> 00:31:54,167
A limestone tunnel
With a pyramid-shaped roof
417
00:31:54,200 --> 00:31:56,067
13 feet tall.
418
00:32:00,067 --> 00:32:03,233
These are the remains
Of a sophisticated aqueduct
419
00:32:04,500 --> 00:32:07,667
That can hold 50,000 gallons
Of freshwater.
420
00:32:10,733 --> 00:32:13,067
Fourteen centuries ago,
421
00:32:13,100 --> 00:32:15,300
It stretches five hundred feet
422
00:32:17,067 --> 00:32:19,700
From one end
Of palenque's palace
423
00:32:19,733 --> 00:32:22,267
To the temple complex
In the south.
424
00:32:23,533 --> 00:32:26,367
It's a masterpiece
Of maya engineering.
425
00:32:30,100 --> 00:32:32,300
Rodrigo liendo investigates
426
00:32:32,333 --> 00:32:34,767
This intriguing water system.
427
00:32:34,800 --> 00:32:37,367
He wants to find out
Why the maya build it.
428
00:32:38,567 --> 00:32:40,233
Behind the palace,
He discovers
429
00:32:40,267 --> 00:32:41,900
An open water channel.
430
00:32:43,300 --> 00:32:46,300
[rodrigo speaking]
431
00:32:54,333 --> 00:32:56,067
[steve]
The maya build palenque
432
00:32:56,100 --> 00:32:57,967
On this limestone outcrop
433
00:32:58,067 --> 00:33:00,300
To harness its year-round flow
434
00:33:00,333 --> 00:33:02,400
Of spring water.
435
00:33:02,433 --> 00:33:05,433
[rodrigo speaking]
436
00:33:15,667 --> 00:33:18,467
[steve] But in the tropics,
The wet season rains
437
00:33:18,500 --> 00:33:21,067
Fall for weeks without end.
438
00:33:21,067 --> 00:33:24,733
How do the maya manage
This annual deluge in palenque
439
00:33:24,767 --> 00:33:27,633
And prevent
Catastrophic floods?
440
00:33:27,667 --> 00:33:30,667
[rodrigo speaking]
441
00:33:43,333 --> 00:33:45,200
[steve] The maya construct
These waterways
442
00:33:45,233 --> 00:33:47,333
To control the flow of water
443
00:33:48,500 --> 00:33:51,500
And to provide
A better surface for building.
444
00:33:53,300 --> 00:33:56,300
[rodrigo speaking]
445
00:34:18,800 --> 00:34:20,767
[steve]
Nine freshwater streams
446
00:34:20,800 --> 00:34:22,733
Flow down from the hills
447
00:34:22,767 --> 00:34:25,367
And spread across
Different parts of palenque.
448
00:34:28,533 --> 00:34:30,967
The maya build
A sophisticated system
449
00:34:31,067 --> 00:34:32,700
Of underground tunnels
450
00:34:32,733 --> 00:34:34,633
That feed the water
From the streams
451
00:34:34,667 --> 00:34:36,667
Into pools and reservoirs.
452
00:34:39,067 --> 00:34:41,067
They build tunnels on inclines
453
00:34:41,067 --> 00:34:43,233
That narrow towards the end
454
00:34:43,267 --> 00:34:45,500
To increase the water pressure
455
00:34:45,533 --> 00:34:48,833
And possibly form fountains
Across the city.
456
00:34:50,067 --> 00:34:51,700
With a ready supply of water
457
00:34:51,733 --> 00:34:54,667
To support
The ever growing population,
458
00:34:54,700 --> 00:34:56,233
Palenque really lives up
459
00:34:56,267 --> 00:34:59,500
To its ancient name
Of big water.
460
00:35:01,367 --> 00:35:04,067
But rodrigo believes
That people of palenque
461
00:35:04,067 --> 00:35:05,833
Use the underground aqueducts
462
00:35:05,867 --> 00:35:08,333
For more than just survival.
463
00:35:08,367 --> 00:35:10,067
He tracks one of the channels
464
00:35:10,067 --> 00:35:12,833
To a mysterious room
In the palace.
465
00:35:12,867 --> 00:35:15,867
[rodrigo speaking]
466
00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:38,167
[steve]
A strange chamber reveals
467
00:35:38,200 --> 00:35:40,400
Another use for these pools.
468
00:35:59,767 --> 00:36:02,100
[steve] The kings and queens
Of palenque
469
00:36:02,133 --> 00:36:05,067
Used these steam rooms
For ritual cleansing,
470
00:36:05,067 --> 00:36:07,100
Bloodletting ceremonies,
471
00:36:07,133 --> 00:36:10,067
Or taking drugs
To induce hallucinations
472
00:36:11,100 --> 00:36:14,067
So they can communicate
With the gods.
473
00:36:14,100 --> 00:36:15,900
[rodrigo speaking]
474
00:36:25,633 --> 00:36:27,200
[steve] Water management helps
475
00:36:27,233 --> 00:36:29,233
The kings and queens
Of palenque
476
00:36:29,267 --> 00:36:31,600
To create
A modern thriving city.
477
00:36:32,867 --> 00:36:35,367
But in a city
That depends on water,
478
00:36:35,400 --> 00:36:37,067
Could this precious commodity
479
00:36:37,100 --> 00:36:39,233
Also be its undoing?
480
00:36:41,200 --> 00:36:44,367
What causes palenque to fall?
481
00:36:55,567 --> 00:36:57,400
[steve] Palenque,
482
00:36:57,433 --> 00:37:00,433
A stunning maya city
Whose destiny is shaped
483
00:37:00,467 --> 00:37:03,267
By three influential queens,
484
00:37:05,867 --> 00:37:09,200
But this great city
Does not last forever.
485
00:37:09,233 --> 00:37:12,267
How do palenque's
Fortunes change?
486
00:37:14,200 --> 00:37:18,200
Maya inscriptions expert
Felix kupprat investigates.
487
00:37:19,567 --> 00:37:22,300
He believes that clue
To what happens to palenque
488
00:37:22,333 --> 00:37:25,100
Lies in a remarkable set
Of hieroglyphs
489
00:37:25,133 --> 00:37:27,233
Found in the royal palace.
490
00:37:40,933 --> 00:37:43,267
[steve]
Felix inspects the text
491
00:37:43,300 --> 00:37:45,867
To reveal a list of the kings
Of palenque
492
00:37:45,900 --> 00:37:47,700
Following after pakal.
493
00:37:48,933 --> 00:37:51,433
[felix speaking]
494
00:38:11,133 --> 00:38:13,333
[steve] The sudden
Disappearance of rulers
495
00:38:13,367 --> 00:38:15,067
From palenque's inscriptions
496
00:38:15,067 --> 00:38:16,900
Is unprecedented.
497
00:38:16,933 --> 00:38:20,700
It suggests a terrible event
Befalls the city.
498
00:38:22,900 --> 00:38:24,433
What triggers the vanishing
499
00:38:24,467 --> 00:38:26,300
Of palenque's
Kings and queens?
500
00:38:27,533 --> 00:38:30,100
Felix believes the date aligns
With the collapse
501
00:38:30,133 --> 00:38:33,100
Of the entire
Maya civilization,
502
00:38:33,133 --> 00:38:36,967
One of the biggest mysteries
Facing maya scholars today.
503
00:38:38,067 --> 00:38:40,367
One theory
Is that climate change
504
00:38:40,400 --> 00:38:41,767
Has a major impact
505
00:38:41,800 --> 00:38:44,567
On the maya's
Agricultural system.
506
00:38:54,933 --> 00:38:58,100
[steve] But palenque
Is the city of big water.
507
00:38:58,133 --> 00:39:00,333
It's fed by mountain springs
508
00:39:00,367 --> 00:39:03,533
And is built around
An advanced aqueduct system.
509
00:39:03,567 --> 00:39:06,967
Surely they have enough water
To survive a drought.
510
00:39:09,400 --> 00:39:11,200
Rodrigo liendo believes
511
00:39:11,233 --> 00:39:13,700
That even with its supply
Of water,
512
00:39:13,733 --> 00:39:16,400
Palenque is not safe
From the destruction
513
00:39:16,433 --> 00:39:18,433
Sweeping through
The maya world.
514
00:39:19,733 --> 00:39:22,067
[rodrigo speaking]
515
00:39:39,933 --> 00:39:41,900
[steve]
All across the maya world,
516
00:39:41,933 --> 00:39:44,300
Competition
For dwindling resources
517
00:39:44,333 --> 00:39:47,067
Leads to warfare and chaos,
518
00:39:47,067 --> 00:39:48,733
And rodrigo believes
519
00:39:48,767 --> 00:39:52,400
Palenque's reputation
May have been its undoing.
520
00:40:08,700 --> 00:40:10,533
[steve]
But by the 9th century,
521
00:40:10,567 --> 00:40:13,133
Palenque is completely
Abandoned.
522
00:40:13,167 --> 00:40:16,267
After 600 years of domination,
523
00:40:16,300 --> 00:40:18,800
The city's glory days
Are over.
524
00:40:21,133 --> 00:40:23,467
[rodrigo speaking]
525
00:40:29,800 --> 00:40:33,633
[steve] The city is no longer
Home to kings and queens,
526
00:40:33,667 --> 00:40:36,433
Only to birds and beasts.
527
00:40:36,467 --> 00:40:38,900
[rodrigo speaking]
528
00:40:40,133 --> 00:40:42,233
[steve] Eventually,
Palenque is swallowed
529
00:40:42,267 --> 00:40:43,800
By the forest
530
00:40:43,833 --> 00:40:46,133
But not lost forever.
531
00:40:47,400 --> 00:40:50,633
The magnificent
Maya city of palenque,
532
00:40:50,667 --> 00:40:53,800
Home to three powerful queens.
533
00:40:55,133 --> 00:40:57,800
In a man's world,
They rise to the top.
534
00:40:59,000 --> 00:41:01,133
Their strength
And determination
535
00:41:02,467 --> 00:41:04,300
Put the city on the map
536
00:41:05,400 --> 00:41:06,833
And set the stage
537
00:41:06,867 --> 00:41:09,433
For the greatest maya king
Ever known,
538
00:41:10,500 --> 00:41:13,567
Their self-sacrifice
Ensures success
539
00:41:14,767 --> 00:41:16,633
And keeps power in the family
540
00:41:16,667 --> 00:41:18,400
Despite rival attacks.
541
00:41:19,767 --> 00:41:22,767
The result is one of the most
Advanced cities
542
00:41:22,800 --> 00:41:24,200
In the maya world
543
00:41:25,633 --> 00:41:27,900
And spectacular monuments
544
00:41:27,933 --> 00:41:30,500
That endure to this day.
545
00:41:30,533 --> 00:41:33,500
[suspenseful music playing]
39469
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