Articles about Oaxaca
Archaeology

The Perfect Architecture of Mitla

by: Travel by México

The Perfect Architecture of Mitla, Oaxaca
Archaeology

The Perfect Architecture of Mitla

by: Travel by México

In spite of being a relatively small archaeological site, Mitla leaves you with an unmistakable sensation of perfection. Their pyramids were built with small pieces of stone that form intriguing patterns which repeat, but are different on each structure. These captivating patterns called grecas leave an impression on the mind for years to come.

Mictlan in Nahuatl means Place of the dead. Coincidentally there are similar words the in Zapotec and Mixtec languages with very similar meanings ( "The underworld" or "Burial Ground").

It is interesting that beneath the Mixtec ornamentation, Mita was discovered to formerly be a  Zapotec city. It became the center of the power for this culture after the fall of Monte Alban, and for many years it was a thriving place.

It is formed of five monumental groupings: the Northern Group, the Group of Columns, the Adobe Group or the Calvary, the Group of the Stream and the Southern Group. The first to be built were the Calvary and the South, noticeable by the fact that the architecture was similar in style to that of Monte Alban. The church was erected above the Northern Group which gives, if not a mestizo, a very colonial touch.

The site has royal palaces, tombs, administrative buildings, a church, and even a fortress. Zapotec kings inhabited the place and it is said that several kings still guard this land from beneath the earth.

Much can be said about the beauty of Mitla, of the virtues of its neighboring markets, the incomparable prices of the artisany, and the looms  that are sold there, but there is nothing better than to visit it and see it, and to step on these lands that have seen many centuries go by.

Admission : $42 pesos, except for children, students, teachers and senior citizens.

To get to the ruins, go through the town of San Pablo Villa de Mitla, where there are also a few architectural gems, such as the main church. And all of this is just 44 km (27 mi)  from the capital of Oaxaca.

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