Guiengola is a Zapotec archeological site located 14 km (8.7 mi) north of Tehuantepec, and 243 km (151 mi) southeast of Oaxaca city on Federal Highway 190. The visible ruins are located between a hill and a river, each carries the name of Guiengola. There are two main tombs that have been excavated, and both seem to be family interment sites. Both have front chambers that are for religious idols, while the rear chambers are for the burial of important people.The site also has fortified walls, houses, ballgame fields, other tombs and a very large “palace” with remains of artificial ponds and terraces. In the center of the site are 2 plazas, one lower than the other, and 2 pyramids, one to the east and one to the west.
Guiengola is an isthmus Zapotec word that means "Piedra Grande" (Large Stone), from “guie”, stone and “ngola”, large or old. The site is also known as Danyroó or Large or Old Hill.
The city was constructed in the Post-Classic Mesoamerican period (1350-1521). The site was a Zapotec stronghold against the Aztecs, who never did conquer it.
Apparently the mexicas from Tenochtitlan were seeking tributes and also, control and free access to the Soconusco and Guatemala trade routes.
Cocijoeza and his allies, the Mixteco civilization, resisted the attacks under the Ahuizotl (1486-1502) Aztec Tlatoani leadership.
The emperor of the area at the time was Cocijoeza, who defended it successfully against Ahuizotl, ending hostilities by marrying one of Ahuizotl’s daughters.
Ahuizotl’s daughter, Coyolicatzin (Cottom meat or white meat, in náhuatl) had a son from that marriage, Cocijopii Who became the last Zapotec King, he was baptized as “Juan Cortés” by the Spaniards and subsequently tried by the Spanish Inquisition on idolatry charges.
While it was abandoned by the Zapotec upon the conquest of the Spanish, the Spaniards never occupied it, leaving the ruins as they were.
From its location, shape and construction system, it is believed Guiengola was a fortified site where Zapotecs guarded and defended against attacks from hostile groups. It is also likely it was an administrative center of the Zapotec isthmus.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Guiengola
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guiengola
