Aztec and Maya Myths
Karl Taube(Author)
British Museum Press
Published in October 1993
Book
Hardback
80 pages
978-0-7141-1742-3 (ISBN)
Description
The myths of the Aztec and Maya derive from a shared Mesoamerican cultural tradition. This is very much a living tradition and many of the motifs and gods mentioned in early sources are still evoked in the lore of contemporary Mexico and Central America. Professor Taube discusses the different sources for Aztec and Maya myths. The Aztec empire began less than 200 years before the Spanish conquests and knowledge of their mythology derives primarily from native colonial documents and manuscripts commissioned by the Spanish. The Maya mythology is far older and evidence survives from native writing and art of the classic period, over 600 years before the Spanish conquest. Drawing upon these sources, as well as 19th- and 20th-century excavations and research, including the interpretation of the codices and decipherment of Maya hieroglyphic writing, the author discusses, amongst others, the "Popol Vuh" myths of the Maya, the flood myth of northern Yucatan and the Aztec creation myths.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Illustrations
50 b&w illustrations, map, bibliography, index
Dimensions
Height: 241 mm
Width: 171 mm
Weight
220 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7141-1742-3 (9780714117423)
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Schweitzer Classification
Content
Major sources and the history of research; Aztec mythology; Maya mythology; Mesoamerican mythology.