Temple of the Great Jaguar

The Temple of the Great Jaguar rises on the east side of the Great Plaza of Tikal, in the Peten rainforest of northern Guatemala. Dated to about 732, this limestone step pyramid is crowned by a towering roof comb and takes its name from a carved lintel showing its king enthroned on a jaguar seat.

The ruler buried within was Jasaw Chan K'awiil I, who took the throne in 682 and broke the power of rival Calakmul in a battle of 695. Temple II across the plaza held the tomb of his queen, Lady Lahan Unen Mo'.

His son Yik'in Chan K'awiil carried on the dynasty, but Tikal's fortunes faded with the Classic collapse. Building ceased, the palaces were burned, and by the end of the tenth century the jungle had swallowed the empty city and the jaguar temple.