STELLA 31: This stela is one of the most famous. Stormy Sky, one of Tikal’s most famous rulers, erected it.  A jaguar depicted on it was the God who protected the city of Tikal.  The back of this stela is covered with the story of major events in Tikal's history. Experts believe that only the scribes and elite people could read. Being a scribe was a very important position.  The text was also designed for the Gods to read it. The rulers proclaimed their accomplishments to the people in their city, to the Gods, and to their ancestors.

TOP OF STELLA 31: The ruler Stormy Sky holds a headdress up for the people to see, before he puts it on. The title on the headdress and the words on the stela connect him to his famous grandfather Chak-To-Ich'ak. In this way, he adds to his own power and fame in the eyes of the people.  At this time, Tikal was a powerful city with a powerful ruler. The city itself grew and flourished. Tikal controlled or influenced many other sites in the region and its rulers controlled important trade routes.

Just over 100 years later, Tikal was defeated by Caracol. Their glory dimmed for another 150 years.  But then, Ha Sawa Chaan-K'awil acceded the throne, he returned Tikal to its glory. As a symbol, he buried Stela 31, a monument from Stormy Sky, inside the second temple. Then he built a new temple, rising up almost 8 stories over the Great Plaza.

Grand Plaza, contiguous to Group F.  Archaeologists have reason to believe one of the ball-courts at Tikal may have been found there and the little that is known about it is that there were steam baths here and that this may have been the Grand City of Tikal's main market site.