Ancient Mexican Spiral of D… [1] Although there is no direct evidence in the early phases of Monte Albán's history, walls and fortifications around the site during the archaeological phase Monte Alban 2 (ca. Their capital was first at Monte Albán and then at Mitla, they dominated the southern highlands, spoke a variation of the Oto-Zapotecan language, and profited from trade and cultural links with the Olmec, Teotihuacan and Maya civilizations. Like most Mesoamerican religious systems, the Zapotec religion was polytheistic. Excavation of Mound III at the Cuilapan Temple Pyramid in Oaxaca revealed a dedication cache containing many jade beads, two jade earspools, three obsidian blades, shells, stones, a pearl, and small animal bones, likely from birds, dated to 700 AD. At Monte Albán archaeologists have found extended text in a glyphic script. The religion of the Zapotec is Roman Catholic, but belief in pagan spirits, rituals, and myths persists, to some extent intermingled with Christianity. Most notably, their influence is visible in the sudden change in style of ceramics made in regions outside the valley. The Classic Period ball court of Monte Alban (150-650 CE).
[13] Likewise, crops grown in the valley were not enough to sustain the rapid population growth in the Monte Albán I phase. The Zapotecs of the Central Valleys call themselves "Be'ena' Za'a" - The Cloud People. The environment is well suited for agriculture and is considered one of the cradles of maize.

The city, strategically placed overlooking the three main valleys, evolved over centuries, beginning around 500 BCE and remaining the cultural centre until the demise of the civilization around 900 CE. The Zapotec conquered or colonized settlements far beyond The Valley of Oaxaca. Related Content First dated to 500–600 BC, this was initially considered the earliest writing in Mesoamerica. In addition, individual cities often had their own patron deities, for example, Coquenexo ('Lord of Multiplication') patron of Zoquiapa, Coqui Bezelao and Xonaxi Quecuya (gods of death and the underworld) patrons of Mitla and Teocuicuilco, and Cozicha Cozee (another war god) patron of Ocelotepec. Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/asulib-ebooks/detail.action?docID=3443095, Script Delivery: New World writing takes disputed turn, Portal:Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Population history of indigenous peoples of the Americas, Painting in the Americas before European colonization, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zapotec_civilization&oldid=981156103#Religion, States and territories disestablished in 1521, Articles containing Zapotec-language text, Pages using infobox country or infobox former country with the flag caption or type parameters, Pages using infobox country or infobox former country with the symbol caption or type parameters, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2016, Articles needing additional references from October 2012, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2017, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2007, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 30 September 2020, at 16:26. The compadrazgo, a system of ritual kinship established with godparents, is important. Marcus, Joyce (1978) “Archaeology and Religion: A Comparison of the Zapotec and Maya.” World Archaeology 10(2): 172-191. The major Zapotec sites, spread across the Y-shaped Valley of Oaxaca, include the capital Monte Albán, Oaxaca, Huitzo, Etla, San Jose Mogote, Zaachila, Zimatlan, Ocotlan, Abasolo, Tlacolula, and Mitla. Other important pre-Columbian Zapotec sites include Lambityeco, Dainzu, Mitla, Yagul, San José Mogote, El Palmillo and Zaachila. There is also a system of numbers represented by dots and bars and glyphs for the 260-day year based on 20 day names and 13 numbers with the 52-year cycle of the Calendar Round. The Zapotec were also skilled sculptors and single effigy figures, groups of figures and urns survive both in clay and more precious goods such as jade. Ancient History Encyclopedia - Zapotec Civilization, Zapotec - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Zapotec - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Zapotec is a tone language, which means that the meaning of a word is often determined by voice pitch (tonemes), essential for understanding the meaning of different words.

In addition, over 170 underground tombs have been excavated, many with vaults and antechambers with richly painted walls, which attest to the wealth of the city. Clothing ranges from traditional (particularly for women) to modern. Some of the most important gods were the Bat-god - the god of corn and fertility, Beydo - god of seeds and wind, Cocijo (who had a human body with jaguar and serpent features with a forked tongue) - the rain and lightning god, Pitao Cozobi - the corn god, Copijcha (symbolised by the macaw) - the god of the sun and war, Coquebila - god of the earth's centre, Huechaana - a mother goddess also associated with hunting and fishing, Kedo - god of justice, Ndan - the androgynous god of the oceans, Pixee Pecala the god of love, and Coqui Xee - the creator god who represented infinity. The Zapotec pantheon is as rich and bewildering as any other Mesoamerican religion is to modern eyes with the standard deities for such important agencies on the human condition as rain, sun, wind, earth, and war. Monte Albán was one of the first major cities in Mesoamerica. In the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, there were Zapotec and Mixtec artisans who fashioned jewelry for the Aztec rulers (tlatoanis), including Moctezuma II.

However, uprisings against colonial authorities occurred in 1550, 1560 and 1715. In the Preclassic period they established fruitful trade links with the Olmec civilization on the Gulf Coast which allowed for the construction of an impressive capital site at Monte Albán and for the Zapotec to dominate the region during the Classic period. During the expansion of Monte Alban 2 state, we think we see both colonization and conquest". Ancient Zapotec Religion. The site continued to be significant, though, as it was adopted by the later Mixtec as a sacred site and place of burial for their own kings. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. The last battle between the Aztecs and the Zapotecs occurred between 1497 and 1502, under the Aztec ruler Ahuizotl. Zapotec deities were predominantly associated with fertility or agriculture. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2020) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. These are assumed to represent the rulers of the provinces. [16] Zapotec deities were predominantly associated with fertility or agriculture.

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