Aspects of Classic Maya Religion and World View 
137 
10 
entombed. While 685a is a three-stepped pyramid with rectangular outline of the steps, 
685b looks more primitive like an unfinished pyramid or thatched hut (a frontal stair 
case is present in both cases). Perhaps 685b refers to the Temple of the Inscriptions in 
an earlier, unfinished state. 
On the Cross-Tablet the “pyramid text“ above Pacal starts with the following 
glyphs: 
Gl, HI (9.10.8.9.3) 9 Akbal 6 Xul 
II 188.74:685b:?, “the lord in the line of the pyramid-builders“? 
J1 565a:501:534, tan.nah[e].lok, “in the midst of the first esteemed ones“?/522:776. 
The day 9 Akbal of the initial date recalls the Bolon-ti-ku, the “nine lords of the 
night and underworld“. The “pyramid texts“ continue with the date (9.10.10.0.0) 
13 Ahau 13 Kankin (Sun-Tablet, G2/H2; Cross-Tablet, K9) which in turn recalls the 
Oxlahun-ti-ku, the “thirteen deities of the diurnal heaven“. The association of the short 
lord with the day 9 Akbal and the “nine lords of the night“ supports his identification 
as “dead Pacal“. After encountering the underworld Pacal ascends to his ancestors in 
heaven, to the realm of the Oxlahun-ti-ku. 
Sarcophagus lid, Temple of the Inscriptions (Fig. 14) 
On the Sarcophagus lid in the tomb of the Temple of the Inscriptions the dead Lord 
Pacal, disguised as young maize god, reclines on the mask of Colop-u-uich-kin, both 
enclosed by the yawning abyss of the earth. The “tree of life“ rising over the dead 
Pacal has the shape of a cross. The two arms and the main trunk of this cross end in 
Xiuhcoatl (fire serpent)-masks. A double-headed celestial serpent with opened jaws and 
spiral-eyes entwines around the arms. Longnosed deities emerge from the jaws, the one 
on the west side of the sarcophagus (God K) distinguished by a spiral-eye, the one on 
the east side (the Jester God) by a squint-eye. 
A squint-eye characterizes also the (quetzal) bird with the head of the “jester god“ 
perching on top of the cross (in the zenith), close to the north side of the sarcophagus, 
whereas Colop-u-uich-kin (down in the underworld) near the south side of the sarco 
phagus is distinguished by spiral-eyes. Of the two most prominent horizontally oriented 
figures the upward looking head of Pacal lies closest to the east, the downward looking 
head of the “jester god bird“ closest to the west side of the sarcophagus. This arrange 
ment reflects the daily round of the sun, its ascent to heaven in the east (squint-eye 
symbolism), its descent into the underworld in the west (spiral-eye symbolism). The 
dead lord certainly was identified with the sun in the underworld, and — like the 
sun — was thought to ascent to heaven, to the “house of the ancestors/fathers“ 
(187:1016), after passing the purgatory of Xibalba and being reborn by the earth 
goddess. 
On the trunk of the “tree“ directly above the reclined Pacal the head grapheme 
T 1017 in side-view is inscribed, characterized by a T 617a (hil) forehead element, 
a squint-eye, and grapheme T 24 (il) on the cheek. Two medallions with the face T 1017 
in front-view are carved on both sides of the tree’s top. The “tree“ itself marks the 
path the dead lord takes to ascend to heaven and immortality.