The shrine is 31.9 by 12.1 metres (105 by 40 feet) in size, with a maximum height of 8.9 metres (29 feet) omitting the roof comb. The shrine's external walls are vertical, in contrast to the remainder of the pyramid. The temple's interior has been badly destroyed but probably included many large stone tables for performing rituals. Three of the Tikal pyramids were probably used for ceremonial purposes while one was probably designed as a royal tomb. The three ceremonial pyramids are called "shrine temples" because they were probably used to house sacred objects that would have been displayed during ritual activities. They are larger than most other Maya pyramids and one of them (the Temple of the Inscriptions) is even larger than the main pyramid at Tikal. The largest ceremonial pyramid is about 35% taller than the main pyramid at Tikal. The main reason why the Shrine of the Copings is so important is that it contains the only known image of its kind from the Mayan world. This drawing (now in the British Museum) shows a god dressed in a jaguar skin holding a human head in his arms. Below the skin image can be seen the mark of blood from where the jaguar's heart had been removed. This gruesome picture may have been used during ritual practices to ask the gods to forgive humanity for any wrongdoings.