Mar. 2009
The Temple of the Jaguar rises 144.4 ft (44 M) and stands at the heart of the ancient city-state of Tikal. Built to commemorate and later entomb Jasaw Chan K’awiil the 1st, this Shaman King ruled the city from AD 682 to 734. Jasaw Chan resurrected the city from a 150-year dark ages of subjugation and kicked off an unprecedented two hundred years of geo-political supremacy over all Maya city-states, a dominance that lasted until the ultimate collapse of the entire civilization by AD 908. Crowning the pyramid is a massive roof comb depicting the ruler seated on his throne looking west towards Temples II, III and IV, each of which the sun sets directly behind once a year. 1450 years of erosion have created the illusion of a face staring directly overhead. This is ironic since archeoastronomers suspect the pyramid will come into direct alignment with the center of our Galaxy on midnight December 21st, 2012. Buy calendar online
