city state · Mesoamerica and the Caribbean
El Tajín
Origins
El Tajín grew in the hills of north-central Veracruz, in a region of rich rainfall and tropical farming. It became a significant centre from about 600 CE and reached its greatest size after the decline of Teotihuacan, dominating the Gulf Coast region later known as Totonacapan.
Rule and society
The Pyramid of the Niches, with 365 recesses, and the Tajín Chico palace area display a distinctive style of stepped frets and flying cornices. At least 17 ballcourts have been found; panels in the South Ballcourt show players, sacrifice and the gods. A ruler named 13 Rabbit appears on columns of the Building of the Columns. The economy probably relied on maize, cotton and vanilla.
Decline and legacy
El Tajín declined and was largely abandoned around 1200, possibly after burning. The Totonac people later dominated the region. It was rediscovered in 1785 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.
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Cite this page
- APA
- The Epoch Institute. (2026). El Tajín. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/el-tajin
- MLA
- “El Tajín.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/el-tajin. Accessed .
- Chicago
- The Epoch Institute. “El Tajín.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/el-tajin.
- Harvard
- The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘El Tajín’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/el-tajin (Accessed: ).
Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻