Monte Alban

Among the beautiful Mexico, on the southeastern side, you can see an amazing ancient settlement that dates back to the pre-Columbian era and is known as Monte Alban. Next to it is the capital of the state of Oaxaca with the same name, and the landmark itself is located on top of a plateau, from where you can see wonderful natural landscapes.

Monte Alban has been known since 500 BC, it is the oldest settlement in Mesoamerica. The city served as the center of the economic, military, and commercial life of the local tribes. A little later, it turns into the capital of a fairly powerful Zapotec state, and has carried this honor for thousands of years. During the period of prosperity, there were about 25 thousand people in the city.

There was a clear structure among the city's residents 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 govern the people, because the power also belonged to the priests. The Zapotecs professed polytheism. Among the many gods they worshipped, the god Koshiko, who was the god of rain, stood out. These people had great knowledge in astronomy, mathematics and other sciences. But, around 500-750, this settlement turned out to be abandoned, the exact reasons for which remain a mystery to modern scientists. Researchers only assume that Monte Albana was conquered by the Mixtecs. Around 700, this city had no residents, but a little later it was repopulated. 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 that numbered 55 acres, and surrounded by wonderful terraces on which stood residential buildings with manicured gardens. There were many religious buildings, various galleries, observatories, as well as pyramids and a kind of stadium in the city. Sports games in this country differed from similar Maya games in that there were no sacrifices practiced during the competition.

The entire Monte Alban housed a large number of tombs and tombs, decorated with magnificent frescoes and domes. Such architecture testified to the high level of cultural development of the ancient civilization. The bas-reliefs, for example, of dancing people, on the walls of one of the buildings, which, according to scientists, served as a hospital, have been perfectly preserved here. The researchers also found a structure that was most likely an ancient astronomical observatory.

Here and in our time, you can meet the heirs of the Zapotecs, who speak the most ancient language, and are faithful to the traditions and culture of their ancestors.