糖心传媒

The dancers in Monte Alban in Oaxaca, Mexico.

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Edificio de los Danzantes


This structure combines an early (Monte Alb谩n I) building, which contained famous carvings known as Danzantes (Dancers), with a later structure that was built over it. There are a few original Danzantes in a short passage that you can enter, and copies of others along the wall outside. Carved between 500 and 100 BC, they depict naked men, thought to be sacrificed leaders of conquered neighboring towns.

The Danzantes generally have thick-lipped open mouths (sometimes down-turned in Olmec style) and closed eyes. Some have blood flowing where they have been disemboweled.


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1. Edificio J

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The 40m-high South Platform, with its wide staircase, is the tallest in Monte Alb谩n and is great for a panorama of the plaza and the surrounding mountains鈥

3. Gran Plaza

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About 300m long and 200m wide, the Gran Plaza is the heart of Monte Alb谩n. Some of its structures were temples; others were elite residential quarters鈥

4. Edificio P

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Building P was topped by a small pillared temple and was probably an observatory of some sort. The sun shines directly down into a small opening near the鈥

5. Juego de Pelota

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The stone terraces of the deep Ball Court, constructed about 100 BC, were probably part of the playing area, not seats for spectators. It鈥檚 thought they鈥

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The North Platform is almost as big as the Gran Plaza, and affords the best views. It was rebuilt several times over the centuries. The 12 column bases at鈥

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