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Mitla

Mexico · 5th century

Founded
c. 500
Location
Oaxaca
Coordinates
16.91667°, -96.4°
Links
Wikimedia Commons
Open on the map →Wikipedia ↗
Mitla in Mexico
Photo: Gengiskanhg · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Description

Mitla is the second-most important archeological site in the state of Oaxaca in Mexico, after Monte Albán, and the most important of the Zapotec culture. The site is located 44 km from the city of Oaxaca, in the upper end of the Tlacolula Valley, one of the three cold, high valleys that form the Central Valleys Region of the state. At an elevation of 4,855 ft (1,480 m), surrounded by the mountains of the Sierra Madre del Sur, the archeological site is within the modern municipality of San Pablo Villa de Mitla. It is 24 mi (38 km) southeast of Oaxaca city. While Monte Albán was the most important politically of the Zapotec centers, Mitla became the main religious one in a later period as the area became dominated by the Mixtec.

The name Mitla is derived from the Nahuatl name Mictlán, meaning the "place of the dead" or "underworld." Its Zapotec name is Lyobaa, which means “place of rest”. The name Mictlán was transliterated to Mitla. It was established as a sacred burial site by the Zapotec, but the architecture and designs also show the influence of the Mixtec, who had become prominent in the area during the peak of Mitla settlement.

Mitla is unique among Mesoamerican sites because of its elaborate and intricate mosaic fretwork and geometric designs that cover tombs, panels, friezes, and even entire walls of the complex. These mosaics are made with small, finely cut and polished stone pieces that have been fitted together without the use of mortar. No other site in Mexico has this decorative work.

Text adapted from “Mitla” on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

In the rankings

Mitla ranks #582 of 9,902 worldwide in the atlas's castle fame ranking, and #6 of the 17 mapped in Mexico. Founded c. 500, it is older than 97% of the atlas's dated landmarks, one of 38 atlas entries founded in the 5th century. Its Wikipedia articles were opened 6,109 times in the last 60 days, more than 90% of the atlas. See how Mexico compares in the castle statistics.

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