Temple I has been an icon of Classic Maya architecture since 1882
It is believed that the high roofcomb was once decorated with a seated sculpture of Jasaw Chan K'awil sitting in splendour.
Martin & Grube, Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens, p. 47
From the Maudslay Collection, British Museum. Used with permission under the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 non-commercial license. ©The Trustees of the British Museum.
This photo of Temple I was taken shortly after Alfred Maudslay had it cleared of encroaching jungle in 1890. Since then, it has captivated the popular imagination and come to epitomize classic Maya architecture.
"Temple I, the funerary shrine of Ah Cacau [now referred to as Jasaw Chan K'awil], was built after his death, probably under instructions he gave to his son and successor, Yax Kin Caan Chac [Yik'in Chan K'awil].
Ah Cacau's tomb was discovered underneath the shrine, north of the centerline of the pyramid.
On its summit is a three-room temple surmounted by a huge roof comb portraying the ruler seated on his throne; this temple undoubtedly served as his mortuary shrine.
Robert Sharer, The Ancient Maya, 160-163.
A series of stacked platforms creates the pyramid effect, which is most easily seen on Temple I with its nine platforms and elegant proportions. From below the temple itself appears to be in the heavens.
Peter Harrison, The Lords of Tikal, p. 116
NOTE: In Maya mythology, there were nine levels of the underworld, which correspond to the nine platforms of the pyramid.
