Tikal Temple I
Petén Department, Guatemala
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Rising 45 meters above the rainforest canopy in Petén, Guatemala, Tikal Temple I ranks among the most iconic structures of pre-Columbian Maya civilization. Constructed circa 732 AD as a funerary temple for the ruler Ah Cacao, this limestone stepped pyramid exemplifies Petén architectural style and is crowned by a characteristic roof comb—a distinctive feature of Maya temples. Known also as the Temple of the Great Jaguar for a lintel depicting a king enthroned upon a jaguar, the structure represents a significant architectural departure: its placement on the eastern edge of the Great Plaza broke with Tikal's established tradition of positioning funerary temples north of the plaza in the North Acropolis. Today it anchors Tikal, one of the largest and most significant cities of the Maya world, now protected as a World Heritage Site.
Movement
- Type
- temple, archaeological site, Mesoamerican pyramid
- Height
- 45 m
- Place
- Petén Department, Guatemala
This building on
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Location