148 



MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA 



age. It was conquered by the Aztecs in the last decade 

 of the fifteenth century. While the architecture be- 

 longs in a class by itself the frescoes have the distinct 

 character of the Aztecan period. 



The remains at this site have already been contrasted 

 with those at Monte Alban. There is one fairly large 

 mound at Mitla but it has no surviving superstructure. 

 The temples are placed on low platforms which usually 

 contain cruciform tombs. The buildings are carefully 

 oriented and are assembled in groups of four which 

 almost enclose square paved courts. The heavy walls 

 have surfaces of cut stone and a filling of concrete or 

 rubble and are ornamented with longitudinal panels" of 



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Fig. 53. Wall Paintings of Mitla, resembling -in style the Picto- 

 graphic Art of the Codices from Southern Mexico. 



geometric designs arranged according to a carefully 

 worked out plan. The geometric patterns are based on 

 textile art and the mosaics of separately carved stones 

 which fit neatly together preserve for us the ancient 

 designs on belts and mantles. The chambers are long 

 and narrow and formerly had flat roofs which have com- 

 pletely vanished. The wide doorways usually have two 

 piers which help to support the lintel blocks. These are 

 carefully trimmed stones of great length and weight. 

 All the outer surfaces of the Mitla temples were sized 

 with plaster and painted red and the frescoes, traces of 

 which can still be seen in several buildings, are in red and 



