Tututepec
BETWEEN 1483 AND 1519, THE MIXTECS OF TUTUTEPEC were able to defend their territory from attacks by the Aztecs. The Spanish, however, were unstoppable.
On March 3, 1522, Pedro de Alvarado arrived to the Coast. The warriors of Tututepec engaged in bloody combat, but Coaxintecutli, the last Mixtec king of Tututepec, was forced to surrender. Coaxintecutli was killed on March 22, 1522 after being tortured by order of Alvarado.
The Mixtecs had many gods, but the most important was the Goddess of the Moon who was responsible for both the fertility of the earth and of human beings. Before Alvarado took command in 1522, the king led a big celebration to thank the Goddess in October at the time of the harvest. When the Spanish came, the Mixtecs only thought about protecting their goddess, and they buried her statue under what is now the Municipal Palace. Even today the gods are still worshipped.
Source: Palacio Municipal of Tututepec
You can see the statue of the Goddess and other artifacts at the Museo Comunitario Yuca Saa, located next to the Palacio Municipal of Tututepec. In the palacio you will find murals depicting prehispanic life and the Spanish soldiers.
The museum is around an hour and a half from Puerto Escondido. Take highway 200 past Rio Grande. The entrance to the municipal capital is marked by a statue of 8 Venado, Garra de Jaguar. Continue on this road until you reach the top of the hill. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 to 5. You can call the museum director, Raúl López Nicolás, at 954 201 4530 to schedule a visit when the museum is closed.
Palacio Municipal, Villa de Tututepec
