Discover the 'Red Queen' of Palenque: Señora Tz’aka’ab Ajaw Mayan Exhibition at Thyssen-Bornemisza

This exhibition showcases the funerary attire of 'La Reina Roja' (The Red Queen) of Palenque, a significant historical figure from the 7th-century Mayan civilization. The collection includes bracelets, necklaces, and her funerary mask, highlighting the power and relevance of women in the ruling elite of that era.

The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum presents 'Señora Tz’aka’ab Ajaw, la ‘Reina Roja’ de Palenque', featuring the funerary ensemble of this historical figure from the 7th-century Mayan civilization, wife of K’inich Janaab’ Pakal (Pakal the Great) of Palenque. Housed at the Alberto Ruz L’Huillier Site Museum in Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico, the collection comprises bracelets, necklaces, and her funerary mask, among other objects that attest to the power and relevance of women within the era's governing elite. This exhibition is part of the larger collective exhibition 'La mitad del mundo. La mujer en el México indígena' (Half the World. Woman in Indigenous Mexico), organized by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation and the National Institute of Anthropology and History of Mexico, in collaboration with Spain's Ministry of Culture and the Ibero-American General Secretariat. Curated by Karina Romero Blanco, this project features over 435 pieces from various Mexican collections, aiming to strengthen ties between the two countries and champion indigenous Mexican peoples, particularly women, whose contributions, resistance, spirituality, and grandeur deserve recognition. This initiative aligns with the declaration of 2025 as the Year of Indigenous Women in Mexico, honoring the presence and contributions of peoples who have shaped the country's identity for over thirty centuries, with indigenous women serving as guardians of memory, languages, traditions, and ancestral knowledge.

Admission to the museum is included with the single ticket, except on Mondays when access is free thanks to Mastercard sponsorship. Visitors can purchase tickets online or find information on reduced and free entry options.