Today we left beautiful Oaxaca and headed for Monta Alban, a historical site which was the original city of the Zapatecs. It is 7000 feet high and part of the Sierra Oxidental. Its name means white mountain as
in the word "albino" and was named after conquistador, Diego Lopez de Monte Alban. The Zapatec name is still unknown but some think it was called Cerro del Tigre. We do know the Mixtecs who settled at the foot of the site called it Yucuci, or Monte Verdi. There was no water originally there and the Zapatecs and Mixtecs had to carry up all the water they needed. Of course, in 500 BC Oaxaca was only a lake so there was no problem to get water. Later they built a system of water storage to catch run off from the rain. The whole city was covered in stucco on top of a rich stone. The colors were red and blue from the cochineal bug. The whole city was adorned with reliefs of Gods. They even had a ball court and an astronomical observatory. The engineers built a temple of the dancers which was acoustically perfect for the performers as the audience could hear them perfectly. By 1600 the city was abandoned and past into legend. In 1930 an archaelogical dig commenced to rescue it from the jungle covering it and it continues today.
Photos to follow
3 comments:
Dear Mrs. Boyle,
Lovely picture of you with Monta Alban in the background. Does the teddy bear travel with you always?
Love,
Ari
Also, where did the steps lead to? And why was the hole there?
Love,
Ari
Hi Ari,
Jack came with me this year but when I went to India it was Ely the Elephant. Look on my India blog below and see if you can find her. Also loof for Jack in other photos coming up. The steps lead to a tomb.If you are rich you get a tomb like this one so you can lie down straight but if you were poor you had to be scrunched up in a squat position to be ready to go to the after life. Great questions. Hugs.xx
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