Monte Albán

After class today, a couple of classmates and I decided to venture to Monte Albán, the ancient capital city of the Zapotec, an indigenous Mexican civilization. The ruins are located a short distance outside of the city. We were able to catch a shuttle van to take us there. Unfortunately, by the time we arrived, we only had an hour to explore before the park closed, and we all agreed we could have used more time. But it was nice to get away from the bustle of the city for the afternoon.

This structure served as somewhat of a sun dial.

These bas relief images of dancing men (Los danzantes) lined the walls of one structure.

We were curious about this carving because it looks pretty new. Perhaps because it is sheltered inside a structure, it is protected from weathering?

We found the whole place very interesting and had so many questions. We all agreed we would love to be able to time travel to see what the city was like back when it was still in use. It was definitely a worth-while trip, even for just an hour visit!