Quiahuiztlan
Quiahuiztlan is a small ruin site about 85 kilometers north of the modern Mexican port city of Veracruz on a flat ledge about a third of the height of a free-standing, weathered volcanic vent , the Cerro de los Metates . It belongs to the post-classical era (from 900 AD) and existed until the conquest by the Spanish conquistadors , in the course of which it was abandoned.
Nearby, the conqueror of Mexico, Hernán Cortés , founded the first Spanish city, Villa Rica de Vera Cruz , in 1519 , which, however, was abandoned after five years and relocated further south. In Quiahuiztlan, Cortés found decisive support for his campaign of conquest against the Aztecs among the Totonacs and their ruler, whom he called the “Fat Caciks”.
Characteristics of the place, which is only intended for ritual purposes, are peculiar grave structures that only appear here and in a few places in the immediate vicinity. Temples in miniature format, which are seldom higher than half a meter, were built over the actual graves. They stand like the great temples, in rows on low platforms with a central staircase and enclose a rectangular open space. The 78 small temples are arranged in several groups not far from each other. Their mostly good state of preservation (although the degree of restoration cannot be clearly determined) gives a precise impression of how the large temples looked, of which mostly only remains have been preserved. So it is with the normal-sized temples of Quiahuiztlan, between which the small tombs lie. Only the foundation walls are left of them. Parts of the district with the tombs and temples are surrounded by a low wall, which is less of an obstacle than a symbolic demarcation.
The ball court , which underlines the ritual character of the place, is on a slightly lower level. It has the typical shape with a wide play alley, narrow and low heels on both sides, sloping reflective walls and courtyard-like extensions at both ends of the play alley. The building material in all of Quiahuiztlan are stone slabs, which stand so naturally and do not require any special finishing.
literature
- Ramón Arellanos Melgarejo: La arquitectura monumental postclásica de Quiahuiztlan: estudio monográfico . Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa 1997. ISBN 968-83439-4-3
- Ana Luisa Izquierdo: La arquitectura funeraria de Quiahuiztlan . In: Cuadernos de Arquitectura Mesoamericana 8, 1986. pp. 3-23. ISSN 0185-5131
See also
Web links
Coordinates: 19 ° 40 ′ 10.8 " N , 96 ° 24 ′ 53.7" W.