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ce: Sellen 2007, 139.
(López García, 2001; Morris 987, 133). This results
in a set of orientations that can be represented in a
An important part of ancient Zapotec worldview
were the meanings they ascribed to the seven
directions they recognised, based mainly on the
movements of the celestial bodies and stars. The
north and east were considered the directions
of light, truth and where life prevailed. These
directions were also associated with the rising and
the shining sun (López García, 2001). Conversely
the south and west were connected to darkness,
secrecy and death. These directions were also
associated with the setting and the dark (invisible)
sun (López García, 2001). Urcid (2014) notes that
burial structures which were built below houses
were often located on the west side of the building,
“suggesting a symbolic link between death and the
setting sun” (Urcid 2014, 209). Similarly the north
is related to the rising sun and the south is related to
the setting sun. This is probably because during the
summer solstice, the sun reaches the most northern
point of its annual cycle, while during the winter
solstice the sun reaches the southernmost point of
its annual cycle (Hopkins and Josserand 2001, 3).
C
Materials
This study focuses on Tomb 104 at Monte Albán. It
was undisturbed prior to excavation, which means
that all the artefacts and human remains were
recovered in their original positions (Caso 2003,
107-125). This allows for a secure analysis of the
orientation of the internment and the three Cocijo
another. The single human internment is oriented
westeast, with the head towards the far wall of
the tomb and the feet towards the entrance (see
the tomb while the third was situated on the lintel
above the entrance outside. The vessels all faced
east, their backs directed towards the western wall
of the tomb. This caused two of the vessels to face
away from the internment and one vessel to face
towards the internment. All three vessels show
vessel to be discussed is the one situated on the
vessel is adorned with a very elaborate headdress
in which the mask of Cocijo has been integrated
deity protrude, creating the impression that Cocijo
2017 | INTER-SECTION | VOL III | p.25