ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the Valley of Oaxaca sites of Dainzu and Monte Alban in their capacity as hilltop shrines and sacred places that were the focus of procession ceremonies. It suggests that the power of these shrine sites was wielded as a political tool. The chapter contextualizes the Late Formative sculptural/architectural programs at Monte Alban and Dainzu. It provides a framework for the discussion of procession rituals in the Valley of Oaxaca region. The relationship between processionals and petitions for rainfall is next considered, followed by a discussion of shrine sites. The chapter examines sacred space and politics at Dainzu and Monte Alban. An analysis of patterns of distribution, the ritual sequence itself, and the ideological principles tied to the Dainzu handball game highlights the potential of the cultural complex for political maneuvering.
