A postcard from Mexico: the treasures of Tomb 7
Greetings from Oaxaca
The city of Monte Albán was founded by the Zapotecs near present-day Oaxaca. The tomb known as 7 is the most famous of many discovered there, as it contained the largest number of Mesoamerican objects found to date, both from the Zapotec culture and later Mixtecs. The treasures are now displayed in the Museum of Culture in the Santo Domingo monastery in Oaxaca, among them this skull decorated with turquoise mosaic tiles.
I’ll share much more about Monte Albán on my return, as well as the significance of skulls for the peoples of this region, past and present.
Note: the effect in my feature image was created with the ToolWhizz app.
43 Comments
SoyBend
That piece is cool but creepy at the same time, Sarah.
Sarah Wilkie
I know what you mean, I was rather intrigued by it! We saw a similar piece in the museum in Mexico City which I hope to share soon 🙂
Alison
Very impressive Sarah, I like the featured image too, works so well.
Sarah Wilkie
I was pleased with how that came out, I may use it again in the future 🙂 I was simply fiddling to see if I could get the portrait-format image to work in landscape!
Dawn M. Miller
This reminds me of an art piece I blogged about years ago. “The Eye” is a Greek inspired piece to ward off evil spirits.
Sarah Wilkie
A lot of cultures create art to ward off evil spirits, don’t they? But in this case it’s more like the Egyptian beliefs about taking treasures with you to the afterlife.
grandmisadventures
That is both beautiful and a little creepy all at the same time
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, that just about sums it up!
Amy
Skull decorated with turquoise mosaic tiles, a precious piece!
Enjoy your trip, Sarah!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Amy, we’re having a great time!
equinoxio21
Monte Alban is unique. You do have a good programme. Just a word of advice: daughter 1 (the MD) just caught COVID last week in Oaxaca. Try to keep your mask on inside if you can… 🤞🏻
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks for the warning but to be honest we haven’t bothered with masks for several years now and unless mandated probably wouldn’t do so. We’re vaccinated multiple times and happy to take the risk that we might catch Covid, whether at home or abroad.
equinoxio21
You’re probably totally resistant. All the best…
wetanddustyroads
Mosaic work from hundreds of years ago is fascinating. This one is beautiful, but at the same time also frightening.
Sarah Wilkie
I know what you mean, although we’ve learned that the Mexicans see the skull as something to be celebrated not feared.
bluebrightly
I hope you’re having a very good time. This postcard is perfect – no need to do a long post, just get our appetites worked up! Looking forward to more…
Sarah Wilkie
Glad you liked it – and yes, there will be lots more!
ThingsHelenLoves
This is incredible, looking forward to a more in depth post. Happy travels, Sarah, this trip sounds amazing!
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, we’re having a great trip. Now in the north, in Chihuahua state, where it feels and looks very different!
Lesley Russell
I love that monastery building – those beautiful pearly walls.
Sarah Wilkie
The church was amazing too!
Anna
That skull is pretty cool! Wouldn’t want it in my room at night though 😜
Sarah Wilkie
Haha, I know what you mean!
the eternal traveller
Goodness, that guy looks a bit grim. The mosaic work is amazing though.
Sarah Wilkie
Well he has been disturbed after some centuries of rest!
Wind Kisses
Thats right…I did see you were in Mexico. Perfect weather for you right now!
Sarah Wilkie
Loads of sunshine and hot in Mexico City and Oaxaca, but we’re further north in the Sierra now and it’s freezing at night (and no, I’m not exaggerating!)
Wind Kisses
Thanks funny. I wouldn’t think that.
margaret21
What a graphic skull! I can’t believe that you not only have time to keep in touch with the blogging community (thanks!) but even to titivate your images. You’re probably not going to bed at night … Enjoy the rest of your adventures.
Sarah Wilkie
I’m only really keeping in touch during down time in our hotels, e.g. on a break between daytime sightseeing and evening dining and drinking!
margaret21
Yeah well, the operative word in all this is ‘break’!
Sue
Oooh,that skull is a bit alarming!
Sarah Wilkie
Indeed, although you get used to seeing them everywhere here!
Sue
Ah, OK!
thehungrytravellers.blog
Hey I don’t think we knew you were going to Oaxaca. We absolutely loved it there, great little city with so much interest and great food too. Oh gimme another grasshopper omelette right now 😂. Monte Alban is indeed fantastic, one of those places that just makes you imagine what life was like when the city was thriving. I wonder what else you’ve discovered in the area….
Sarah Wilkie
We only had a few days there. Our best discovery unfortunately came on the last evening, a fabulous rooftop bar opposite Santo Domingo with great cocktails and views of all the action below! We didn’t come across grasshopper omelette (I can imagine how well that works) but enjoyed them alone as a snack, with guacamole and in tortillas as a seasoning.
thehungrytravellers.blog
That’s probably a bar that we ate in at least twice…we were there in that square, New Years Eve to see in 2019. We also stayed in Puerto Escondido, still one of my top ten places we’ve ever been, worldwide.
Sarah Wilkie
Sur e Norte – I remembered the name!
Marie
We really hope to make it to Oaxaca one day – looking forward to hearing all about it. The skull is amazing – and I love mosaics – not sure I’d fancy looking at it here on a side table at home though!!!
Sarah Wilkie
I’m pretty sure my more detailed posts, on my return, will tempt you to visit 😃
Monkey's Tale
What a fascinating skull!! Hope to seenit soon 😊
Sarah Wilkie
Definitely worth visiting this museum and the attached church which is dripping with gold. Be warned, both have funny opening hours!
Monkey's Tale
Thanks