Monte Alban is built at the junction of three broad valleys, across from the Atoyac stream, lays a series of large hills. The largest of these hills is nearly 400 meters above sea level. It was on the top of this mountain, which the Zapotecs leveled off and built into a great ceremonial city in about the year 500 ad. This center once ruled the entire region. The city is now known as Monte Alban. Monte Alban, or "White Mountains" in Spanish, was formerly called Danibaan (Sacred Mountain). No visit to Oaxaca can be considered complete without visiting Monte Alban. There were many beautiful white blossomed trees called "Tree Morning Glory," Ipomoea arborescens, growing in the area. These trees are also called, Palo del Muerto, Palo Santo Trees, or Trompillo. I did contact Dr. Claudio Delgadillo Moya; Chairman of the Department Of Botany at the Instituto de Biologia, UNAM and one of the botanists on his staff, Rosalinda Medina, suggested that the tree is either Ipomoea arborescens or Ipomoea murucoides, which is native of Oaxaca. Ipomoea murucoides is also known locally as Pajaro Bobo or Quauhzahautl. It reaches a height of about 15 feet. The reason for the doubt as to which tree it was, is that my photos did not show the part of the tree that she needed to see in order to make an exact identification.
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| Audrey And The "Tree Morning Glory," Ipomoea arborescens. |
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| George And Tomb 107 |
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| Building M and Danzantes | Building J, Observatory |
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| Building Four, SE Corner | Building Four, NE Corner |
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| Building Four, North Side | Building Four, Stele Eighteen Dates From 100 B.C.-300 A.D. |
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| Building Four, Stele 18 | Building Four, North Tunnel |
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| Building Four, North Tunnel Gate | Grand Plaza View Looking SW |
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| Grand Plaza View Looking SE | Grand Plaza View Looking S |
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| SW Corner Of North Platform | South Center Of North Platform Stele Located Above The S See Stele Two Frames Below |
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| SE Corner Of North Platform | West Wall Of Ballcourt From Grand Plaza |
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| North Platform Stele | North Platform Stele |
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| Building IV Patio From Building IV Platform | Building IV Patio From Building IV Platform |
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| Building IV Patio From Building IV Platform | Building IV Patio From Building IV Platform |
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| Building IV Patio From Building IV Platform | Building IV Patio From Building IV Platform |
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| Stele VGE - 2, About 800 A.D. Showing 4 Female & 1 Male Rulers Stele On South Side, North Platform | Stele VGE - 2, About 800 A.D. Showing Transfer Of Power Stele On South Side, North Platform |
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| Inside Sunken Patio On Top Of North Platform | Sunken Patio In Background On Top Of North Platform |
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| East Staircase Design Going North Out Of Sunken Patio On Top Of North Platform | Looking South Toward Sunken Patio On Top Of North Platform |
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| Looking Southwest On Top Of North Platform | Ediface VG, Temple Of The Columns On Top Of North Platform |
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| Ediface VG, Looking East On Top Of North Platform | Audrey On Top Of Ediface E LocatedOn Top Of North Platform |
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| Temple Of The Columns Looking South West On Top Of North Platform | Temple Of The Columns Looking SE, Ediface E In Background On Top Of North Platform |
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| The Palace On Top Of North Platform | Carved Stone In Museum |
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| Tomb 107 | Tomb 107 |
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| Tomb 107 | Tomb 107 |
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| Tomb 107 | Tomb 107 |
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| Tomb 107 | Tomb 107 |