Stela I sits in the middle of the Grand Plaza.  It is tall and imposing and has a presence.

According to the INAH Plaque accompanying this Stela, Stela I (“1”) represents the ruler Chaan Muan II at the height of his reign.  His importance is expressed in the way that he is portrayed and the difficulty of hewing a monument of this size from a thin stone slab without its fracturing.  Stela I is almost 20 feet tall, 1 of the tallest stela in the Mayan world.  Chaan Muan II is standing with a ceremonial staff in his hand, while the left carving if his gaze set with a penetrating focus.  Chaan Muan II stands upon an earth monster.  2 faces of the young corn god emerge from the middle of the earth monster.  Hieroglyphics on a band under Chaan Muan II’s feet refer to his genealogy, while below on another side band is Bonampak’s emblem glyph.