Palenque

Palenque is a Mayan ceremonial center that is located in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas. According to heiroglyphic text, Palenquet was begun in 431 A.D. The majority of its contruction was commisioned by two ruler: Pacal and Chan-Bhlum. They immortalized themselves in glyps, stucco tablets and paintings that adorned the temples.
The temples at Palenque were unique amongts the Mayan because they minimized the load of the great stone bearing walls by reducing their arch span with dividing walls and using hollow intricate stone work to minimized wall stress. This allowed the builders to make multiple piers and doorways that would be open--allowing light and air to penetrate unlike most of the other Mayan dwellings.

The most important stucture is the Palace (as shown in the picture, curtosy of Loco Gringo Inc.). The Palace was most likely begun during the riegn of Hanab Pacal and was subseqeuntly added onto by his sons Chan Bahlum and Kan Xul. Next to the Palace lies the Temple of Inscrition--with its protruding astronomical tower. Every winter soltice, from the tower, an observer will see the sun set over ther Temple of Inscriptions. Like many other Mayan ruins, these temples and buildings were built around astronomically calculated days that coincided with important times throughout the year.