ZAPOTEC ARCHITECTURE: CHARACTERISTICS, EXAMPLE OF CONSTRUCTIONS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The architecture zapoteca includes all structures or buildings that were built by the members of this culture that occupied part of the territory of what is now Oaxaca, Mexico.

Monte Albán was one of the main cities of the Zapotecs and appeared as their capital and the center of the state from where all decisions were made and power was exercised. In this city large buildings such as pyramids, temples and palaces were erected.

Source: wikimedia.

The majesty of Zapotec architecture was demonstrated in the city of Monte Albán.

In the Zapotec cities an order reigned with respect to the way in which the buildings were constructed, their location within the city and their internal distribution. It was noted for constructions with ceremonial purposes, palaces, temples and various buildings for public use.

The materials used were generally limestone, wood, lime, among other resources, which could be obtained with great ease from the immediate environment. They stood out for the manufacture of large hydraulic works such as dams and irrigation canals.

characteristics

The constructions belonging to Zapotec architecture were characterized by the large dimensions of some of their buildings.

Since it was a fairly organized civilization, some buildings were intended for political or ceremonial use. These structures for public use had large sizes such as pyramids and palaces.

Source: wikimedia. Monte Alban.

For the elaboration of each one of the constructions, previous planning was used, by means of which their size was defined, as well as the place where they would be placed in the city.

The dimensions of each of the constructions were also defined in advance, so they were not built at random but were governed by kind of plans for manufacturing.

The Zapotecs were characterized by making efficient use of the resources that were available to them in the environment and included them within the buildings.

Likewise, there is evidence that confirms that they transformed the natural environment in which they were established so that it was comfortable for its inhabitants and that the buildings could be erected.

The area on which the city of Monte Albán was established was a sloping terrain, since it belonged to a mountainous area and they flattened all that land.

Materials used in construction

The Zapotecs were characterized by adapting the materials available in their environment in the manufacture of their buildings. Consequently, they took the natural resources they had access to and efficiently combined them to make all kinds of creations.

Among the materials that were used in the construction of their homes and main buildings, it is worth highlighting various types of rock. This natural resource was combined with mud to make joints in the structures.

The rock known as tezontle, for example, was joined with sand and water in order to obtain a smooth effect on the walls.

There is evidence that elements of nature such as wood and palm were used. Likewise, limestone was the raw material in the erection of palaces and buildings for public use.

In Zapotec architecture, adobe and lime were also observed.

Dimensions

This civilization at a historical level was one of the most advanced that inhabited the American territory before the arrival of the Spanish.

This can be seen in the characteristics of its architecture, which is associated with the fact that the buildings and houses that were erected were not built at random. There was a prior planning and an order with respect to the location of each of the elements that made up the cities.

For example, the structures that were manufactured by the Zapotecs used to have measurements that were common to many of the buildings.

In general, the rooms or rooms measured between 20 and 25 square meters, while the internal courtyards of the houses had a maximum dimensions of 13 square meters.

Interior distribution of buildings

There were great differences between the buildings built for public use in which the authorities or important figures of the city were located and the houses for ordinary people.

The structures destined for the institutions that were in charge of politics, astronomy or in which the upper-class people lived, usually were great pyramids or palaces.

These buildings had internal courtyards for the use of all the inhabitants around which the rooms created for personal use revolved.

While the houses that were built for common people were small and had only two rooms, which were located one in front of the other.

Examples of constructions

One of the main cities of the Zapotec civilization was Monte Albán, a territory that is located in the current state of Oaxaca in Mexico. This city was the capital and one of the most important centers of the Zapotec civilization.

In it the majesty of the architecture composed of great pyramids and temples was concentrated.

It should be noted that pieces containing geometric figures were regularly placed in temples. They were generally pieces of stone, some of them also decorated with figures that represented important people within the culture or animals.

In Monte Albán, great fields were built for the ball games that were common for the time. Buildings intended for astronomical observation were also common in the territories inhabited by the Zapotecs, since their knowledge in this area was quite deep.

Monte Alban was famous for its buildings in which various ceremonies were held, as well as for the tombs.

Other constructions of great importance within Zapotec architecture were the dams. In order to carry out their crops successfully and ensure the feeding of the population, high quality irrigation canals were developed.

References

1. Castañeda, S, Y, (2017). The Zapotecs. Autonomous University of the State of Hidalgo. Taken from uaeh.edu.mx
2. ETHNICS. (2018). Zapotec architecture. Taken from etnias.mx
3. Let's talk about Cultures. (2017). Zapotec culture: characteristics, location, religion, gods, and much more. Taken from hablemosdeculturas.com
4. Tomasini, M, (2007). Astronomy, geometry and order: cosmological symbolism in pre-Columbian architecture. Taken from academia.edu
5. Inter-American University for Development. Characteristics of the Zapotec Culture. Taken from sites.google.com