Monte Albán - Southern Platform

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Monte Alban South Platform

The most southerly structure was built around 500-800 AD. 12 Jaguar, a Monte Alban ruler dedicated the Southern Platform on the Main Plaza. Several stele and offerings were placed at the base corners of the Platform. The offerings consisted of Jade beads, ceramics and other small items of treasure.

One of the Stele shows 12 Jaguar sitting on a bench or throne with inscriptions historically archiving his glorious deeds and amazing origins. The other stele at the west of the Platform portrays captives likely sacrificed as an offering during the dedication ceremony. The Stele you see here are replicas.

The Impressive Southern Platform has a majestic staircase is 40 meters wide and ascends to a large flat area on which there are two small pyramid temples separated by a patio. The platform is approximately meters wide and 15 meters high and is 140 meters wide and 108 meters deep. A defensive wall was built around the northern platform supporting the theory that Monte Alban was created and maintained because of an external threat.

The larger of the pyramid temples found on top of the Southern Platform has some Teotihuacan influenced motifs on the façade indicating both influence and intermingling of the two cultures. The staircase faces east. It is 9 meters high.

The smaller pyramid temple is 6 meters high and about 20 meters square. It also shows the Teotihuacan carvings on its façade.

The South Platform has amazing views of the valleys below. You can imagine lookouts scanning the landscape for trade opportunities or enemy attacks.

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