Title: Las pinturas de los palacios de Mitla, Oaxaca
Description: After the abandonment of Monte Albán, the Zapotec priest or the Huijatao, settled in the palaces of Mida, which also housed the tombs of the rulers of Zaachila. Back then the reigns of the high Mixteca rose, and their descendants permanently imprinted their stories, and devotions in numerous codices. Only a few of these illustrated manuscripts survived to this day, known for their calligraphic style that incorporated and standardized the iconography of the most ancient codices. In the Central Altiplano the Toltecs and nonoalca Chichimecs extended its domain on those territories previously affiliated to Teotihuacan. Some of them, however, decided to immigrate to Oaxaca and boost the formation of new reigns, in addition to promote the use of the signs that were used in their region of origin. When the Zapotec main priesthood commanded the elaboration of codices in wall over the lintels of the palaces, they used the iconography of tthe ancient Mixtec codices, without losing sight of the signs and codes that gave sense to their own tradition. The Chichimeca groups from the Highlands left their own mark in the ceramics and architecture of Mitla, but is in the narrative of their mural paintings where they are better recognized. This fact did not change the character of the Zapotec site, the palaces are located in the confines of Teozapotlan, a reign whose story has yet to be written.
Subjects: Zapotec mural painting and decoration, Zapotec Indians, Antiquities, Zapotec art, Indians of Mexico, Indian art
Places: Mitla Site (Mexico), Mexico, San Pablo Villa de Mitla, San Pablo Villa de Mitla (Mexico)