Mitla, Entrance to Tomb 1

Tomb 1 at Mitla is located within the Group of Columns, accessible via the central patio in front of the northern building's staircase. The tomb features a cruciform plan with a central chamber and lateral niches, roofed by massive monolithic stone lintels. Its inner walls are decorated with the same geometric mosaic fretwork (greca friezes) found on the exterior buildings, with small polished stones fitted without mortar. Spanish accounts confirmed that royal Zapotecs were buried in these cruciform tombs beneath the floors, a legend proven true by archaeologists. The tomb also contains the famous "Column of Life".