This gallery represents the underworld, and is therefore located one level below the rest of the museum.

The exhibition begins with the lid of a ceramic vessel featuring a depiction of the jaguar and cacao cobs, symbols associated with chocolate—a sacred drink with various uses. The jaguar was seen as the supreme lord of the earth. Its spotted coat symbolized the lights in the sky, making it a revered deity. Due to its ferocity and lethal power, it was also believed to rule the underworld. This ability to inhabit the underworld, earth, and sky was shared by the great Maya rulers.

Facing the jaguar is a sculpture of Toniná’s earliest known ruler: the Lord of the Skull of the Water God, Lord of Poo, who marks the beginning of the dynastic record in 595 CE.

Accompanying these sculptures are inscriptions of two significant calendar dates: the first refers to the date of the third creation of the universe, corresponding to August 13, 3114 BCE in the Gregorian calendar, or 4 Ahau 8 Kumk’u in the Maya calendar. The second marks the end of Maya inscriptions in 909 CE, corresponding to 10 Baktun, 4 Katun, 0 Tun, 0 Uinal, 0 Kin. At the edges of this sculptural ensemble are representations of prisoners from Calakmul.

The second part of the gallery explains the complex pyramid structure of Toniná and its relationship to the thirteen calendar deities. Various ceramic vessels from both the Maya and Chenek cultures are also displayed.