Cacaxtla

Cacaxtla is one of the most amazing places on the map of Mexico. This archaeological site is in 40-minute drive from the capital of the state of Puebla.

Cacaxtla ("a place where the rain is dying in the land") became famous for its well-preserved wall paintings of Mayan culture, detected by conventional farmers in 1975. This ancient city was the capital of the Olmec-Xicalancas, which dominated on the Gulf Coast un VII-X centuries AD.

The city appeared in IV-V centuries and reached its peak during the years 700-900 AD. After the fall of the nearby city of Cholula Cacaxtla was the main religious, political and economic center of the Valley of Puebla-Tlaxcala.

The palaces and the temples of Cacaxtla were built on the natural platform located in the valley and separating the modern states of Puebla and Tlaxcala. On this platform main buildings focused, designed for the nobility and clergy.

Since the main complex of Cacaxtla buildings was not unearthed until the 1980s, many colored drawings on the walls are preserved and available for inspection visitors. It's interesting that many of the murals combine the symbols of the Mexican plateau with the influence of Mayan culture that makes Cacaxtla unique in this regard. Amazing murals tell you about the battles and fury of warriors, about the mysterious gods as jaguars and eagles, about the priests, its servants. The most famous fresco of Cacaxtla has a length of 22 m and depicts the battle between the warriors of the jaguar and eagle.

Among the 240 exhibits of Cacaxtla Museum, representing the culture of Olmec-Xicalancas, are the frescos "The Man-Jaguar" and "The Man-Bird", the samples of different techniques of carving, painting, pre-Hispanic ceramics, as well as 11 clay sculptures called the Gods of Cacxtla and representing the mythical creatures, for example, the god of rain, Tlaloc.

In 2007, when a hailstorm hit many Cacaxtla murals, it was decided to build a roof over the archaeological area to preserve the unique images of 1000 years ago.