“Mitla is the second-most important archeological site in the state of Oaxaca in Mexico, and the most important of the Zapotec culture.
“The name Mitla is derived from the Nahuatl name Mictlán, meaning the ‘place of the dead’ or ‘underworld.’ Its Zapotec name is Lyobaa, which means ‘place of rest.’ The name Mictlán was Hispanicized or transliterated to Mitla by the Spanish colonists. It was established as a sacred burial site by the Zapotec, but the architecture and designs also show the influence of the Mixtec, who had become prominent in the area during the peak of Mitla settlement.
“Mitla is one of the pre-Columbian sites that express the Mesoamerican belief that death was the most consequential part of life after birth. It was built as a gateway between the world of the living and the world of the dead. Nobles buried at Mitla were believed to be destined to become ‘cloud people,’ who would intercede on behalf of the population below.”
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