The temple is one of two great structures which face each other across the central plaza at Tikal. Although the city was founded more than two thousand years ago and its earliest known structures date from around that time, this pyramid is one of the later ones. It was built in 732 AD around 300 years before the city was finally abandoned. Between 600 AD and 900 AD Tikal was the most powerful and influential of all the Mayan city states rivalled only by Calakmul (the site I visited in Mexico a year and a half ago. This pyramid was planned by one of the greatest rulers of that era, Jasaw Chan K'awiil 1, also known as Ah Cacao and Sky Rain. The pyramid built of massive limestone blocks is 47m high and is topped by a shrine and a huge roof comb. The complete structure was orginally covered in stucco and painted bright red!