Why go
Toniná broadens the story of the western Maya region beyond Palenque. Its unusually prominent sculpture in the round contrasts with flatter carved surfaces, while the rising temple terraces show how rulers used height and concentrated construction to give their city a commanding ceremonial presence.
The full story
Near Ocosingo in Chiapas, Toniná developed a monumental center of temple-pyramids on terraces rising above a plaza. A large ballcourt formed another important part of the complex. Most of its numerous carved monuments belong to the sixth through ninth centuries, during the Classic period of Maya history. The city's sculpture is especially distinctive. Alongside stucco work, Toniná produced substantial numbers of figures carved in the round, meaning they have volume rather than appearing only as relief on a flat surface. This gives its sculptural tradition a different character from many familiar Maya monuments. Toniná also pursued military power and repeatedly fought Palenque, one of the principal kingdoms of the western Maya region. That rivalry helps explain the political ambition behind the city's ceremonial display. A monument bearing a Long Count calendar date corresponding to 909 CE places Toniná within the late history of Classic Maya monument-making, extending the story beyond the height of its better-known rival.