Aztec and Maya Myths (Legendary Past) [Paperback]

Karl Taube (Author)

Book Description

Series: Legendary Past | Publication Date: 1993

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 Guatemala. Professor Taube discusses the different sources for Aztec and Maya myths. The Aztec empire began less than 200 years before the Spanish conquest, and our knowledge of their mythology derives primarily from native colonial documents and manuscripts commissioned by the Spanish. The Maya mythology is far older, and our knowledge of it comes mainly from native manuscripts of the Classic period, over 600 years before the Spanish conquest. Drawing on these sources as well as nineteenth- and twentieth-century excavations and research, including the interpretation of the codices and the decipherment of Maya hieroglyphic writing, the author discusses, among other things, the Popol Vuh myths of the Maya, the flood myth of Northern Yucatan, and the Aztec creation myths.

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: University of Texas Press; 1 edition (1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 029278130X
• ISBN-13: 978-0292781306
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #261,072 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Aztec and Maya Myths, January 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Aztec and Maya Myths (Legendary Past) (Paperback)

Dr. Karl Taube's book "Aztec and Maya Myths" is an excellent introductory book for the study of ancient Mesoamerican mythology and cosmogony. This book is geared more towards a neophyte audience. Taube's book is not intended as a complete treatment of an immense topic, but rather provides the reader with a basic understanding of native Mexican mythology, and the tools to search further into the topic if one is so inclined. I would greatly recommend this book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Dissapointing, July 22, 2004

By 

Zeveck - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Aztec and Maya Myths (Legendary Past) (Paperback)

This book was not what I had expected. To start with, it is only 80 pages, and 30 pages are taken up discussing the research history from which our knowledge of Aztec and Mayan myths derive. The 50 pages of mythology offer only a broad overview of myths (broader even than the excellent World Mythology: An Anthology of Great Myths and Epics by Donna Rosenberg). That said, it does an okay job of tying the myths into the culture and has lots of apposite pictures.

Overall, however, I regret having purchases this book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good introduction, April 6, 2001

By 

Rafael Kühn (Dresden, Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aztec and Maya Myths (Legendary Past) (Paperback)

As always, Karl Taube provides good value with a book about Mesoamerican mythology written specifically for the beginner. He starts by illustrating the various sources from which these stories have come down to us, and then recites Maya and Aztec beliefs (mainly concerning Creation) in a fluent and enjoyable way. He doesn't go into the details as much as one could wish, and makes little mention of secondary myths which aren't yet completely understood, but - especially as far as the Aztec part is concerned - he does a fine job of hooking the reader onto the spiritual worlds of cultures that have rarely found their equal in both comlexity and richness of meaning. Buy and get excited.