MIXTEC ARCHITECTURE: CHARACTERISTICS, EXAMPLES OF CONSTRUCTIONS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The Mixtec architecture encompasses all of the buildings that were built by this civilization that inhabited since 1500 BC in various regions of Mexico and Puebla, Oaxaca and Guerrero.

The importance of the Mixtec architectural legacy is associated with the great skill they demonstrated in the work on the stones, which they carved in a remarkable way. They made frets, which they placed as a mosaic on the temples and pyramids that were intended for public use.

Source: Wikimedia. The city of Mitla was one of the main cities of the Mixtec civilization and is considered an architectural gem.

They were also characterized by writing codices on the pyramids and stairways, which are writings carved on the stones. Stories corresponding to the Mixtec people were expressed on these rocks.

However, although it had great relevance, Mixtec architecture was not characterized by the construction of large buildings since they occupied old Zapotec cities, so there were already a series of buildings from the previous town.

characteristics

One of the main reasons that make Mixtec architecture stand out is the great skill with which they worked the stone and how they transformed them into works of art.

Although many of the great structures that were part of the main cities like Mitla, were not built by them but by the Zapotecs, they added ornaments that turned them into architectural jewels.

One of the main characteristics of Mixtec architecture was the placement of frets on the buildings. These are decorative elements made of stone, characterized by their grouping and similarity, being a kind of pattern that is repeated. They were used to beautify the main buildings, palaces and temples.

Another of his most recurring works were the stone columns, usually large, that supported the ceilings.

It should be noted that in Mixtec architecture writings were carved on the stairways and other parts of the pyramids or temples, whose content was related to the culture.

For the construction of the pyramids the style known as double board was used. This way of building the pyramids was characterized by placing a large horizontal surface on a stone wall that is inclined.

Materials used in construction

In a similar way to other civilizations, for the construction of their buildings they took the natural resources with which they had in their environment, being mainly the rock the main material used. In fact, in the buildings that today are considered architectural gems, they used rocks, which they worked with great skill.

These stones were worked and later placed on the temples, palaces or buildings by completely aligned pieces. The treatment that was given included stucco, which is a paste-like preparation composed of materials such as plaster and lime, among others.

These rocks were also painted and placed in an artistic and neat way, providing a decorative touch to the structures.

However, there is evidence showing that for the construction of houses for people with few resources, the materials used were totally different. In these cases, small structures were manufactured with a mixture of not very resistant materials, which contrasted in terms of size and splendor with the main buildings.

For example, the roofs were made of palm, while for the rest of the structure a kind of weaving was carried out between reeds and sticks in combination with mud.

Fusion with Zapotec architecture

The Mixtec civilization occupied the territories corresponding to cities such as Monte Albán, which were built by the Zapotecs.

In this sense, Mixtec architecture came to merge with the Zapotec because they took the buildings built by them and added the stone ornaments that characterized them.

In any case, there is evidence that shows that some of the constructions built in the city of Mitla were carried out by the Mixtecs.

Regarding the use of buildings, both civilizations took great care in the details in buildings for public use such as political and religious centers and temples.

Source: wikimedia

Ball game field

And with regard to the homes for the less wealthy classes, these stood out for their extreme simplicity.

Likewise, the distribution within the buildings for public use preserved the same interior style as that of the Zapotecs.

That is, the private rooms were built around a main patio, which was in common use.

However, Mixtec architecture stands out for the remarkable work on the stones, which were carved with great skill and placed as ornaments on the buildings.

Examples of constructions

Within the Mixtec style, architectural works of great beauty and splendor were elaborated.

Despite the fact that in many of the cases this civilization occupied territories where the buildings were already located at the time of their arrival, they stood out for the work done on them.

The city of Yagul, for example, was built as a fortress in order to protect its inhabitants from disputes with other civilizations. There you can see large-scale works.

Its most important structure is the so-called palace of the six patios, which consists of six housing complexes with their respective patios. The shape of these constructions was quadrangular, they were not buildings for public use but houses for individuals and a tomb was located in each courtyard.

Another of the Mixtec architectural jewels is located in the city of Mitla, one of the most important of this ancient civilization. Although the city as a whole shows the splendor of this culture, the palaces stand out for their great beauty and for the great work on the stone.

The distribution of the buildings in the ancient city of Mitla, even over the years, shows an order in which the public buildings were located in the center and the less important houses in the surroundings.

References

1. Mexican Archeology. Mixtec. Taken from arqueologíamexicana.mx
2. Mixtec culture. Taken from ecured.cu
3. The impatient lookout. (2011). Mixtec culture. Taken from elmiradorimpaciente.blogspot.com
4. ETHNICS. (2018). Mixtec archeology. Taken from etnias.mx
5. Original towns. Mixtec art. Taken from pueblosoriginario.com
6. Ramírez, P. Architecture. Taken from literatzapotmixt.wordpress.com