From Mitla’s Mystique to the Majestic Tule Tree
Much like enjoying potato chips, once you’ve started exploring ruins – looking at you Monte Albón – you can’t stop at just one. Yes, we have caught the archaeological bug.
We decided to visit the ruins of Mitla, known for their unique and intricate architectural style characterized by the extensive use of finely crafted geometric designs, notably fretwork and mosaic patterns.
This site is renowned for its unique and intricate architectural style, showcasing the advanced architectural knowledge and intricate religious practices of the Zapotec civilization, one of Mexico’s most ancient and culturally rich indigenous groups.
Mitla’s buildings are also renowned for their intricate geometric patterns made from finely cut and polished stone mosaics known as “grecas.” These geometric designs are unlike any found in other Mesoamerican sites, making Mitla stand out as an architectural gem.
The name “Mitla” is derived from the Nahuatl word “Mictlán,” which means “Place of the Dead” or “Underworld.” The Zapotecs believed Mitla to be a place where the living could communicate with the spirits of the deceased, adding to its spiritual importance.
The highlight of Mitla is the “Palace of Columns” (Palacio de las Columnas), a complex featuring ornate columns adorned with intricate carvings. It’s a remarkable example of ancient Mesoamerican architecture and craftsmanship.
Mitla is a prime example of cultural integration in the region. It shows evidence of Zapotec and Mixtec influences, suggesting a blending of cultures over centuries. This may have assisted in Mitla’s unique history which has given rise to various myths and legends. Some locals believe the site is haunted by the spirits of ancient priests, adding an air of mystery to the place.
Mitla is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As you can see a trend here, we love to visit the UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Tule Tree
On the way back from our excursion we stopped at a quaint little town called El Tule. Its claim to fame lies in the presence of a truly remarkable natural wonder: the Tule Tree (Árbol del Tule).
The Tule Tree is a massive Montezuma cypress (Taxodium mucronatum) and is renowned for being one of the most voluminous trees on the planet. The exact age of the Tule Tree is a subject of debate, but estimates place it at over 2,000 years old. This makes it one of the oldest living trees on Earth.
The Tule Tree’s girth is its most astonishing feature. It has a circumference of approximately 137.8 feet at its base. This makes it the stoutest tree in the world.
The tree holds immense cultural and historical significance for the local Zapotec people. It is often associated with myths and legends and is considered a sacred tree. The Tule Tree is so significant that it has also been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We were able to walk around the tree to see for ourselves just how large this tree was. It was truly amazing to see it up close. You can understand why it is so significant.
Oaxaca Textiles
In Oaxaca, during one of our tours, we were brought to a charming textile store. The store, not just selling their wares, also had an interesting demonstration of the textile process.
They had several rooms dedicated to showcasing the intricate art of textile-making, from spinning to dyeing to weaving. Here, an artisan captured our attention as he walked us through the secrets of crafting beautiful textiles.
During the demonstration, one memorable moment involved Sunny, my son’s girlfriend. The artisan recruited her as a volunteer. Upfront, he mixed natural powders from local plants with water on her hand and turned her palm into a rich shade of brown.
Unexpectedly, Sunny playfully marked the artisan’s face and her own with the dye, creating whimsical streaks on their cheeks and foreheads
a lighthearted moment that brought laughter to all.
You might notice pictures of Sunny sporting a brown line on her forehead.
Another thing that captured our attention was a large, beautiful loom, a masterpiece. The heart of this experience lay in the demonstration of the loom’s operation. Watching the intricate designs come to life, like a symphony of colors and patterns, was akin to witnessing a musical performance.
We all had a fun day and learned a bit more about the textile process. It was impossible to resist the finely crafted clothing, and we left with a few pieces.
Love this one!!! The carved rock designs are beautiful, that tree is amazingly huge and old, and the bright textile colors – and color making process with Sunny! – were so pretty!