Monte Alban

Among beautiful Mexico, on the southeast side, you can see an amazing ancient settlement, which belongs to the pre-Columbian era and is known as Monte Alban. Next to it is the capital of the same name in Oaxaca, and the attraction itself is located on top of the plateau, from where wonderful natural landscapes are visible.

Monte Alban is known from 500 BC, it is the oldest settlement of Mesoamerica. The city was the center of the economic, military, as well as commercial life of the local tribes. A little later, he turns into the capital of the sufficiently powerful state of Sapotekov, and bears this honor for a thousand years. During the prosperity period, there were about 25 thousand people in the city.

Among the inhabitants of the city there was a clear structure that divided society into classes. At the head of the city, of course, there was a ruler who did not have enough rights to independently manage the people, because power also belonged to priests. Zapotecs professed polytheism. Among the many gods whom they worshiped, the god Kosiko stood out especially, which was the god of rain. This people had great knowledge in astronomy, mathematics and other sciences. But, in about 500 - 750 years, this settlement was abandoned, the exact reasons for which remain a mystery to modern scientists. Researchers only admit that Monte Alban was conquered by the midwives. Around 700, this city did not have tenants, but a little later it was re-populated. Later, the Spaniards came to this territory, who gave it this name.

At that time, the city of Monte Alban looked like this: in its center there was a huge area, which numbered 55 acres, and surrounded by wonderful terraces on which there were residential buildings with well-groomed gardens. In the city, there were many places of worship, various galleries, observatories, as well as pyramids and a kind of stadium. Sports games in this country differed from similar Mayan games in that sacrifice was not practiced here during the competition.

The entire Monte Alban accommodated a large number of tombs and tombs, the decoration of which was served by magnificent frescoes and domes. Such architecture testified to the high level of development of the culture of ancient civilization. Barreliefs, for example, dancing people, on the walls of one of the buildings, which, according to scientists, served as a hospital, perfectly saved here. Researchers also found the structure, which was most likely the oldest astronomical observatory.

Here and in our time you can meet the heirs of the Zapotoks who speak the oldest language, and are also true to the traditions and culture of their ancestors.