Mitla

Temples of Mitla

Oaxaca, Mexico

So often we think that anything new or modern is better. Better made, better engineered and made out of more sophisticated, durable and functional materials. Designers take note - some of the ancient ways really were better. These pictures feature what look like decorative brickwork; in reality, it is an ancient construction technique that has survived all other buildings constructed in this area.

The detailed walls shown are the temples of Mitla in Oaxaca, Mexico. The structures on this site date from 200 and 900 AD and were built by the Zapotec culture. The word "Mitla" is Nahuatl (the Zapotec's language) meaning "Place of the Dead." Indeed, many tombs of priests were excavated at this site. Mitla is situated about 24 miles from the capital of Oaxaca (also named Oaxaca) in an area that is known for its seismic activity. Despite the tremors, these temples have remained virtually intact while all the modern structures around them have collapsed. Archaeologists working at the site throughout the 20th century have been dismayed to discover that structures built to study or reconstruct parts of the temples would collapse under tremors, but the ancient structures remained unaffected.

The remarkable engineering that makes Mitla so durable is a mortar-less construction. "Bricks" of carved rock are stacked in a manner that allows for shifting without breaking. These "bricks" are referred to as "mosaics," but what we are actually seeing is the blunt end of an eight to ten inch long element that is pieced or stacked together. One can also see that the walls never meet the floor or ceiling at a 90-degree angle. Instead, they are mediated with a recess, much like the riser below cabinets.

The inlaid stone mosaics are arranged in a series of stepped patterns known as a stepped-fret design. The motif of these intricate geometric mosaics is believed to be a stylized representation of the Mesoamerican deity, Quetzalcoatl, the plumed serpent. For more information on Quetzalcoatl, go to weber.ucsd.edu/~anthclub/quetzalcoatl/quetzal.htm.

The snake is an animal that moves by side winding; therefore, steps that mimic this motion represent the snake god. It is also believed that the stepped sides of Mesoamerican pyramids are a form of homage to this deity as the pyramids are best climbed by moving sideways up the stairs in a zigzag manner.