We explain what the Zapotec culture is and how they organized themselves socially and politically. Also, its characteristics, religion and economy.
Zapotec culture was noted for its art and urban architecture.
What is Zapotec culture?
The Zapotec culture was a ancient mesoamerican civilization who inhabited the Mexican territory of the current valley of Oaxaca and the isthmus of Tehuantepec, between 500 BC. C. and 900 AD. c.
The Zapotecs believed that their people came from heaven and They called themselves “binni zaa” which means “the people of the clouds”a name that also referred to their settlement in high mountainous lands.
Its political and social organization was crossed by religious beliefs and its artistic expressions had warlike and ceremonial features. The Zapotecs They founded the walled city of Monte Albánfrom which they expanded their state and conquered their neighboring peoples.
See also: Indigenous peoples of Mexico
Geographic and temporal location
The ancient Zapotec civilization inhabited the valley of Oaxaca, the mountains of the north of the valley and part of the Isthmus of Tehuantepecin present-day southern Mexico. It developed during the Preclassic and Classic periods of Mesoamerican history, between 500 BC and 900 AD.
However, after the decline of the Zapotec civilization (with capital in Monte Albán), the culture endured over the centuries through small populations that continued to inhabit the region. Today, more than 800,000 people consider themselves Zapotec descendants.
It may be useful for you: Mesoamerica
Zapotec religion
The Zapotecs worshiped Cocijo, god of rain.
The The Zapotec religion was polytheistic, that is, they believed in the existence of multiple gods. Heaven and earth were ruled by gods who were benevolent, but who could become angry and harm the Zapotec people through natural disasters such as earthquakes or drought.
In his worldview, the surface of the earth was called yoo yeche layowhich means “house of the earth”. Above the earth there were nine heavens and the upper one was called yoo yaba, which meant “house of heaven.” Beneath the surface of the earth, there were nine underworlds and the lowest one was called Yoo Gabila, that is, “house of the underworld.” Each of these houses was divided into four quadrants (north, south, east and west) and a center.
For the Zapotecs, The gods were the cause of everything that happened. They thought that each aspect of people’s lives and nature was governed by the design of the gods. The Zapotec pantheon was made up of:
- Liraa QuitxinoGod creator of heaven and earth.
- Pitao Cozaana and Pitao Huichaana. Patron of hunting and patron of fertility, they were the creator gods of natural elements (mountains, rivers and valleys) and living beings (animals, fish and humans).
- Pitao CopyychaGod of the sun, provided the light that living beings need to survive.
- CocijoGod of rain, he supplied them with the water necessary for crops and people’s survival.
- Pitao Cozobi. God of corn, he ensured good harvests to feed the Zapotecs.
- Pitao Paa. God of fortune, he could enrich merchants and take care of trade routes.
- Pitao Xoo. God of earthquakes and fury.
- Pitao ZiyGod of death, illness and misery.
- Pitao PeezePatron of sorcerers and thieves, he could cast spells and deceive people.
- Pitao Pezeelao and Xonaxi Quecuya. Patrons of the afterlife, they welcomed the dead into the home of the underworld and, if venerated, could help overcome illnesses and epidemics. They were especially consulted before beginning wars with enemies.
The Zapotecs believed that noble families (including that of the ruler) descended directly from the gods. When a nobleman died, he returned to the heavens and could communicate with the godsto ask for their favor and intercede for the Zapotec community in crisis situations.
The city of Mitla, located in the Sierra Norte of Oaxaca, was the religious ceremonial center of the Zapotecs. The main temple was located there and the priestly hierarchy lived. In addition, it is believed that groups of oracles operated there and were, in turn, pilgrimage centers. In the oracles the priests were consulted both for matters of daily life and for political and military issues.
All Zapotec cities and villages had temples and residences for their priests.. There rituals and ceremonies were carried out to venerate the gods and ask them for favors. Each city had a patron god who was especially venerated.
Priests were required to practice celibacy (they could not marry or have physical relations with other people) and maintain a strict code of behavior. In addition, in the temples there were virgin priestesses who attended to the priests and carried out minor tasks in some ceremonies.
Zapotec cultural elements
The Zapotecs are believed to have had a logophonetic writing system.
The Zapotec culture was nourished by several elements that allowed it to organize and structure its society based on its religious beliefs:
- Zapotec writing. From their settlement in the city of Monte Albán, the Zapotecs used a writing system with which they indicated objects, named people and even told stories. Records of Zapotec writing were found in the oldest archaeological remains of San José Mogote and Monte Albán. In the tombs of rulers, writing is often accompanied by images and tells stories of how they conquered and sacrificed their enemies.
Today, archaeologists have managed to collect more than one hundred glyphs that belonged to this system. However, Zapotec writing has not yet been fully deciphered. It is believed to be a logosyllabic system (each glyph can represent sounds or ideas) and to be read in columns, from top to bottom. - ritual calendarThe Zapotecs believed that time was cyclical: for them, instead of being in a continuous process that continued into the future, time turned back on itself and moved like a wheel through the years. This belief marked the ritual calendar, created to organize ceremonies and respect sacred times: 13 months identified with numbers marked 20 days.
- Solar calendar. They also created another calendar related to agricultural cycles. It had 18 months of 20 days, and about 5 days left. This organization was used to mark the times of sowing and harvesting, which were essential in agricultural production.
Zapotec social organization
Zapotec social organization was hierarchical.
The social organization of the Zapotecs was marked by a rigid structure that divided the population into two castes: the nobility and the peopleThis separation was based on religious criteria. They believed that when a noble person died, he became an ancestor who could speak with the gods and intercede on behalf of the Zapotec people. On the other hand, when a commoner died, he returned to the land from which he came.
On the other hand, the priesthood constituted a separate social group in which class differences were relegated to the religious role.
- Nobility. It was a closed and endogamous group of families; A noble person was born and interacted with people of nobility and could only marry another noble person. Within the upper class there was a hierarchy determined by proximity to the ruler’s family. They lived in the “noble houses” that had been built in Monte Albán for this purpose, while the ruler’s family lived in the “royal palace.” All high government positions and high military hierarchies were assigned to people of the nobility.
- PlebsThe rest of the population was called the plebs, which included all those people who were not connected to the gods. At the bottom of the plebeian class were the slaves, who were people captured in battles and military conquests. At the top of this class were the merchants, who were often richer than some noble families.
Beyond the rigid structure that divided the castes, within the plebs there was a certain freedom of action that other Mesoamerican peoples lacked. There were no occupational or social movement limitations. Slaves could regain their freedom, dedicate themselves to an occupation of their choice and even marry any other person (who was not a noble). - Priestly orderTechnically, the priestly order cannot be considered a separate class. However, within this social group the strict division that affected the rest of society was less noticeable. The ecclesiastical hierarchy was made up of people of noble origin, but commoners could also join the priestly order. The style and quality of life they led was not so differentiated and, although the roles of the high hierarchy were more important, they shared many responsibilities and ceremonial acts with the rest of the priests. In many cases, service to the gods took precedence over family birth. In the ceremonial sacrifices offered to the gods, the blood of both noble and common priests was accepted.
Zapotec customs
In their tombs, the nobles had offerings and riches that accompanied them to the other world.
By studying the ruins and archaeological remains, specialists were able to decipher many of the customs of the ancient Zapotecs.
Differences in social hierarchy were noted by place of residence, occupation, clothing and the place occupied in religious ceremonies or public events. For example, The clothes of the nobles were made of cotton dyed in different colorsa comfortable material for the temperate climate and temperatures of the region. In addition, they used ornaments with feathers and jewelry made of gold and precious stones. On the other hand, the commoners wore clothes made of agave fiber and natural colors, a more rustic and less fresh fabric. This difference in clothing allowed the nobles to show off their status and, in this way, the commoners to show the due respect to their encounter.
Many cities and villages had spaces dedicated to ball games.. Archaeologists are still not sure what the rules of the game were like. However, from the glyphs surrounding the playing fields it is known that players had to wear knee pads, gloves, and other protective elements. The balls were made of rubber, which allowed them to bounce.
In smaller villages, these playing fields only involved a delimited outdoor space, often accompanied by some pictorial representation of the game on a nearby wall. On the other hand, in large cities decorated constructions were carried out and space seemed to have an important place in city planning….