Synopses & Reviews
An excellent resource,
Handbook of Mesoamerican Mythology introduces readers to the mythology of Mexico and Central America. Its chief focus is on Mexican Highland and Maya areas, as they were, and are, of utmost importance to Mesoamerican history.
An extensive and edifying introduction defines the nature of myth, the Mesoamericans as a people, and the cultural worldview that informed Mesoamerican mythology. The Handbook presents historical and mythological timelines, with each time period and cultural group fully defined. Also featured is a quick geographical and historical survey of Mesoamerica from the Paleoindian Era to the present, as well as a discussion of some of the challenges and possibilities that structure Mesoamerican studies. Moreover, an extensive reference list and a glossary of cultural and mythological terms are included, and pronunciation guides are given throughout. With an annotated bibliography that ranges from film to websites, fiction to poetry, and from introductory to scholarly works, the book is an all-embracing portal to its subject.
Review
"[A]n impressive and scholarly, but still student-friendly work." Library Journal
Review
"Although analytical and exploratory, the essays also convey the richness and imaginativeness of Mesoamerican myth." Booklist
Synopsis
Mesoamerican Mythology introduces readers to the mythology of Mexico and Central America, with its primary focus on Mexican Highland and Maya areas based upon their importance to Mesoamerican history.
An extensive and edifying introduction defines the nature of myth, the Mesoamericans as a people, and the cultural worldview underlying their myths. Next, the book presents historical and mythological timelines, with each time period and cultural group fully defined and with readings and additional references suggested where appropriate. Also featured is a quick geographical and historical survey of Mesoamerica from the Paleoindian Era to the present, as well as a discussion of some of the challenges and possibilities that structure Mesoamerican studies. An annotated bibliography, an extensive reference list, and a glossary are included and pronunciation guides are given throughout.
Synopsis
Illustrated with scores of drawings and halftone photos, this guidebook to the mythology of Mexico and Central America focuses mainly on Mexican Highland and Maya areas, due to their importance in Mesoamerican history. The opening section defines the nature of myth, the Mesoamericans as a people, and the cultural worldview underlying their myths, with a historical timeline from the Paleo-Indian Era to the present. Next, it presents a mythological timeline, some of which is in the characteristically poetic language of pre-Columbian folk tales. A detailed alphabetic listing of Mesoamerican deities, themes, and concepts forms a large part of the book. The extensive bibliography and resource list includes video and Web resources.
About the Author
Kay Almere Read is Associate Professor of Comparative Religion at DePaul University and is the author of
Time and Sacrifice in the Aztec Cosmos.
Jason J. Gonzalez is a graduate student in anthropology, specializing in Maya archaeology, at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He has extensive field-experience on archaeological projects in Mesoamerica and the United States, as well as on the Pacific islands of Micronesia.