Theory No. 3- Observation of the Sun Setting Over the Temple of Inscriptions During the Winter Solstice

The orientation of the Palace Tower to the Temple of Inscriptions allowed royalty and priests to observe the sun falling directly onto the Temple of Inscriptions during the Winter Solstice. A duct was discovered that runs from the tomb, up the sides of the interior stairs to the temple floor. The first part of my theory is that this duct was a means for Pakal to communicate with his descendants during rituals on the temple above. The Temple of Inscriptions rises in nine distinct levels, most likely referring to the nine levels of the Mesoamerican underworld, where a king would descend to its nadir, only to rise up once again.

The second part of my theory is about how the angle of the shadow created by the sun during the Winter Solstice mimics the surfaces of the buildings around the site. These angles of shadow form a path connecting from the courtyard in the Palace to the Temple of Inscriptions.

Site Plan