Lady Sak K'uk', Queen of Palenque
Speaker: Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank
Who is Lady Sak K'uk'?
The Oval Palace Tablet is set behind a throne in the palace at Palenque and shows K’inich Janaab Pakal, or Pakal the Great, and Lady Sak K’uk’. Who is the ancient Maya queen Lady Sak K’uk’ of Palenque? She was a royal woman and the mother of Pakal. She is shown in this sculpture as offering a feathered headdress to Pakal as he ascended the throne. Learn more about the role of this royal woman and the symbolism (iconography) of this scene, still on display in its original location.
Oval Palace Tablet, Palenque.
K’inich Janaab Pakal and Lady Sak K’uk’ are shown in this relief sculpture.
Video chapters
0:00 Introduction to Lady Sak K’uk’ of Palenque
0:42 The Oval Palace Tablet
1:11 Pakal the Great
1:29 The Oval Palace Tablet iconography
2:47 Corn, Head Shaping, and the Divine
3:32 The Oval Palace Tablet and White Skin House
Learn more
Learn more about Mesoamerica.
Discover more about the ancient Maya.
Read an introduction to the Classic Maya.
Check out our entire glossary of art history.
Find more teaching and learning resources about Mesoamerica.
Discover more about women in art.
