San Pablo Villa de Mitla (Mitla for short,) located in the Tlacolula Valley east of Oaxaca City, is for me an intellectually compelling archaeological site, as well as iconographically truly an inspiration. Unlike some pre-Hispanic sites, where meaning is conveyed through sculpture or painted imagery, Mitla communicates through architectural geometry. The beautiful grecas (intricate mosaic fretwork covering the walls of the palaces) are constructed from thousands of precisely cut stone pieces fitted together without mortar, creating repeating step-frets, spirals, andRead more