Remembering The Cloud People in Oaxaca

There's something truly magical about standing among the ruins of thousand year old temples. I found the experience of standing in the kingdom of the... more

by Mark Tisdale

Title

Remembering The Cloud People in Oaxaca

Artist

Mark Tisdale

Medium

Photograph - Photo

Description

There's something truly magical about standing among the ruins of thousand year old temples. I found the experience of standing in the kingdom of the Zapotec a beautiful experience. I almost felt as if I could see the ancient inhabitants in their seat of power. It was on top of this mountain that the upper echelons of the society lived. These were their temples, the administrative and spiritual center of their kingdom.

Yet even having that little glimmer into the lives of the people that once called Monte Alban home was such a narrow view. Seeing these ancient Pre-Hispanic ruins is like seeing a ghost. You get a vague idea of what they were like in life. You can make some educated guesses about what they thought and felt, but it's not the same as talking to them or reading their history in your own language. And the same side of me that was once a sociology student has that desire to understand the people whose old homes I've invaded.

There was something about my comrades on this journey, the way they were gazing out at the ruins. I don't know it somehow encapsulated my own feelings of wonder. That was why I quietly framed this scene with them in it. Looking down from one of the pyramid temples onto the vast plaza below and into the cloud filled skies beyond. The people of today admiring the work of the people of long ago and wishing we understood their history better.

Note: Monte Alban is a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site.

Uploaded

May 15th, 2013