New Years Day.
The four cardinal directions (cardinal points—north, south, east west) are brought up often in the readings and during our field trips as important conceptually in Oaxaca since the ancient past (examples in ritual, architectural layout, symbolism in religious texts and on all kinds of art and architecture). Identify and explain at least two of the examples we have encountered so far.
The first example we encountered was at Mitla, I think. This is where we first saw the usage of squares in architecture of the courtyards, representing the four directions. It was especially important because Mitla was a religious place. Also, in some of the designs on the wall, we often found many crosses which did not represent the christian cross, but represented the four directions. The second place we encountered the four directions was in Monte Alban which was also partially a religious place. The ceremonial square (which was shaped in a square for the religious reasons) had a platform for players of the ball game to stand on.
In terms of date, cultural, physical location of the site (the landscape setting), building types, building functions, and people who were once in residence, how does Monte Alban compare/contrast to Mitla?
Monte Alban is more of a relaxed place in comparison to Mitla, in my opinion. Mitla seems to have always been a religious place. It was designed for worship, the priests lived there, there were special rooms for special ceremonies, only the most worthy of people were buried there, etc. However, Monte Alban was first created as a tactical war strategy. At some point it was a religious place. At some other point it was just a common place. Etc, etc. I'm not sure how much Monte Alban has changed over the ages and what EXACTLY people did during each era (the book seems a bit unclear but has general ideas), but it doesn't seem as holy as Mitla was. Monte Alban seems like a "for general use" place to me.
Mitla: Only preists lived there, buildings were used for religious purposes, all buildings had square pyramids and square lobby. Found by the conquistadors and parts taken to build Catholic structures.
Monte Alban: The type of people who lived there varied, but usually noblemen and preists. The buildings were square pyramids, but did not always have a lobby or grave infront of them. Structure J has the most peculiar shape because it was used to watch the stars. It also had a ball court. It was never found by the conquistadors.
Both: They were both used for religious reasons and housed the most respected people of society. They both used pyramids.
How would you describe the Tule Tree, and what it felt like to see it, to someone else? Relate your experience of the Tule Tree to the Mesoamerican concept of the World Tree or axis mundi.
The axis mundi or the world tree is a point or a tree where all the cardinal directions meet and those on higher planes can communicate with those on lower planes. The Tule Tree was seen as a world tree to mesoamericans because of its huge size, its many images in the trunk, the large roots digging deep into the ground and water, and the many branches reaching up into the sky. The Tule Tree looks like a good example of the conception of the World Tree.
What was your personal experience of the site of Monte Alban?
Monte Alban was exhausting. I didn't realize how big it was and it was so tough to climb those pyramids in the heat. I guess those Zapotecs were in really good shape. It was so cool to see the carvings and temples in real life. When you look at them in books, you just think "Okay? That's cool, but I don't really care." but seeing them in person makes you realize its real. Its not just some thing teachers are forcing you to learn. It really happened. It used to be something in present time. I still don't fully understand everything such as what they would do on a daily basis in Monte Alban or how exactly they moved stones or cut stones. How many people did it. Where did they do it? Ect.
How was the New Year’s Eve celebration in the historic center of Oaxaca meaningful to you and how does it differ from the way you celebrate at home?
This was the best new years I've ever had. I noticed that a lot of restaurants are either closed or extremely reserved. No one is inside a public building before Jan. 1st. They're either at home or having fun in the Zocalo. Once midnight strikes, that's when people will start eating or going out to party. As it gets later and later, the fuller buildings will become. We were at a bar at 11:50. No one was there. By 6 am, it was jam packed full. In America, I tend to think people will have a party at a family's house or go to a big party. I don't think shops close early on New years eve. I doubt that people would wait until 5 in the morning to party. And I noticed my classmates were confused. So I think new years here is very different Especially when we noticed all day Jan. 1st, people were celebrating more than they were at the time we would celebrate in America. The real day of celebration is Jan. 1st (because no one begins to party or anything BEFORE 12 am) and it lasts all day, where as in America, we party just on Dec. 31st at night and a bit into the morning Jan. 1st.
What did you learn in the weaving workshop in Teotitlan del Valle? Explain at length with examples.
I learned that the times are changing. That was the biggest lesson I learned. Back when the father and mother got married, they were as young as 17. When I asked if their son could do the same, they said no because he has to go to school. The boy also said that he wants to do other things in addition to weaving where as the mother and father would only think of weaving for their life. Its just a huge sign of the changing times. I also learned about an initiate meaning of the sun and the moon. Esther pointed out how the wife never said that she did anything. She'd always say she "helped [her husband] to do it." This was because their marriage relationship is symbolic of the sun and the moon. The sun shines brightly and brings things to life and it is because of the sun that the moon can shine as brightly.
While the New Year’s Eve celebration in the zocalo of Oaxaca was purely secular (though in front of the cathedral), the New Year festivities on the hillside above Teotitlan del Valle were an example of religious syncretism (a blend of ancient prehispanic beliefs and religious rites with those of Catholicism). Things to know: incense and fireworks are offerings to god (deities) as they send prayers and thanks to the heavenly realm. Indigenous peoples consider fireworks to be like flowers of light in the sky, and flowers have long been offered to deities during all religious fiestas. In ancient Mesoamerican religions, the earth was thought of as the mother (for the Aztecs, the mother of the sun, moon, and stars), and the source of life (birth, human and agricultural fertility, rain). We witnessed people leaving offerings of candles, incense, flowers, and money at a small altar where they prayed; then, more offerings and prayers at a second shrine altar close to the rock-chipping site; then, removing rock from the earth for good luck in the coming year (concept of cycles of time). They created images representing petitions made of earth placed on the earth. Offerings of fire (flowers of light) were sent to the sky from the centers of our images. Finally, we witnessed some of the fireworks offered by the local people, including the dancing bull and dancing figures. Please write about this experience and what it meant to you.
The fireworks was a great experience. I've never seen so many fires and loud noises in my life. When I was there, I thought it was just for fun, but I noticed the religious element when we had to pray in the tiny "cave". I saw it as thanking God for a new year in a new way. I loved experiencing new years in a way I never even thought of before. It was fun to recreate my dreams and goals in dirt for the new year. This experience was just another example of how the natives tried to hold on to their religion even when the conquistadors were trying to push Catholicism.
Explain the design of Structure J. What are the three key astronomical alignments of Structure J at Monte Alban (the arrow point aligns with one, the stairway center aligns with one, the stairway aligns with one)? Why would marking and ritually honoring such events in the sky have been important to the priests and nobility of Monte Alban?
Structure J has a pentagon shape, something very different than the 4 sided structures that surrounded it. Structure J seems to be a very religious building because its weird shape and structure is accounted for by the things they are aligned with. The staircase points to the Northeast. Different angles on the structure point to different stars that appear over the horizon; the most important is the cross. This is why the building is seen as important. It allows for preists to keep track of the star movement which predicts things for the people.
What was your personal experience at Monte Alban?
It was another interesting experience. I tried hard to imagine the life of people back in that time. It was a tiring day trip because Monte Alban is very big and there is no shade in sight! The designs on the walls, Los Danzantes, and the astoco are things I'm so glad i saw first hand. It is very hard to capture these things and understand them through just photos. And I never understood the amount of stair climbing these people had to do. At least from what I experienced in the ruins, it seems like people are going up and down strange stairsteps all the time. Also, by looking at the buildings, door ways, and steps, I feel like the people who lived there are smaller than the people who live in our world today.
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