Synopsis:

The ancient city of Monte Albán never fails to inspire. Its serene mountain-top location and the monumentality of its acropolis hewn and assembled from the hill’s bedrock inspire wonder and reflection on several issues. Who were the ancient Zapotecs or Binnizá as they call themselves today? Why did they build their city here and what did it mean to them? Answers to these questions can be found in the messages they encoded in sculpture, painting, pottery, urban planning and in the beliefs and rituals that their contemporary descendants practice in the valley today.

Presenter:

Originally from Canada, Robert Markens holds a doctorate in anthropology from Brandeis University, Massachusetts, USA, and was a researcher at the Institute of Aesthetic Research of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) from 2011 until June of 2025. His research focuses on political power in pre-Hispanic Oaxaca and how the principles of power are reflected in works of art, public buildings, and urban planning. He has taught at several universities, including UNAM, the Autonomous University “Benito Juárez” of Oaxaca, the University of the Southeast, the University of Costa Rica, the University of Chicago, and New York University.

INSTITUTO WELTE FOR OAXACAN STUDIES