The Lords of Tikal: Rulers of an Ancient Maya City [Paperback]

Peter D. Harrison (Author), Colin Renfrew (Foreword), Jeremy A. Sabloff (Foreword)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0500281297 | ISBN-13: 978-0500281291 | Publication Date: July 2000 | Edition: First

The Maya metropolis of Tikal was once one of the greatest cities in the world, and today it has become one of the most visited Maya sites. Drawing upon more than thirty years of excavation and research, Peter D. Harrison gives a vivid account of the turbulent history of Tikal. Strategically located, the city served as a major center of trade and as an architectural style-setter for the central Peten region of the Maya Lowlands. The apogee of power and wealth was achieved between A.D. 692 and 800 under the reigns of three generations of the Jaguar Claw clan, whose ruling lords built the Great Temples that symbolize the character and individuality of the city. Some of these Great Temples served as mortuary structures, and the contents of the tombs--from mosaic masks and jade jewelry to beautiful ceramics and alabaster bowls--hint at the richness of life as a lord of Tikal. Making full use of the remarkable recent breakthroughs in translating the Maya's own hieroglyphic record, Professor Harrison summarizes what is known to date of this mysterious city and its rulers.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Harrison draws upon more than 30 years of excavation and research to summarize what is known to date about Tikal. Once one of the greatest cities in the world, Tikal was strategically located in the central region of the Maya lowlands and served as a major trade center and architectural style-setter. Over 3000 known surface structures exist, and as many as 10,000 ruined buildings and platforms may lie below the surface of the site. Recent discoveries in Maya archaeology include insights into the urban nature of the society and the agricultural methods used to support such a large population (possibly 200,000). Harrison discusses breakthroughs in the translation of Maya glyphs, which continue to shed light on the history and politics of the city, and also considers reasons for its decline and fall. This book is recommended for its cogent style, treatment of recent advances in Maya studies, and fine photos and format. [History Book Club selection.]ASylvia Andrews, Indiana State Lib., Indianapoli.
-ASylvia Andrews, Indiana State Lib., Indianapolis
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Recommended for its cogent style...and fine photos. -- Library Journal

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson; First edition (July 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0500281297
• ISBN-13: 978-0500281291
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,588,285 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars better late than never, January 15, 2001

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Michael J. Cowan "Sandra Zickefoose" (Pacific Northwest) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Lords of Tikal: Rulers of an Ancient Maya City (Paperback)

I visited Tikal last Feb. I had read about it for years and still wasn't prepared for the magnitude, the scope the complexity of the civilization it was a small part of--it is a place you have to visit and see for yourself to even begin to really grasp. When I got home I found this book--I really wish I had read this BEFORE I WENT, the trip would have been better for it. In any case, I was happy to read it after the trip. This is the single best work I've found for sharing part of what I discovered at Tikal with people who haven't been there. I recommend it--especially if you are considering a visit--but also if you just like to armchair travel...It is a nice place to go either way.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Lords of Tikal, March 26, 2000

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Atheen M. Wilson "Atheen" (Mpls, MN United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Lords of Tikal: Rulers of an Ancient Maya City (Hardcover)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It does for part of the Mayan world what much of the early work by epigraphers did for that of ancient Egypt in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. The translation and interpretation of Mayan hieroglyphics is a recent phenomenon, occurring only within the last three decades. Through the efforts of dedicated researchers like Dr. Harrison, who excavated at the site of Tikal, and the late Linda Schele, who worked on Mayan hieroglyphics, a synthesis of the epigraphic material is only just beginning to reveal the story and characters of the Maya world for the enjoyment of the armchair enthusiast like myself. This work is definitely an illustration of what is likely to come from the fieldwork in the future.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Intriguing History, July 21, 2000

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Paul V Caetano - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lords of Tikal: Rulers of an Ancient Maya City (Paperback)

I very much enjoyed this book. It presented the history, archaeology and architecture of Tikal in a clear fashion. Harrison wove the various threads of evidence together skillfully without getting bogged down in details. After an introduction to the site and its environment he proceeds in a chronologic order telling the history of this ancient city. He takes two breaks in his story to describe the city's architecture. Because there is dispute in the field of epigraphy you cannot take this book as the last word, but that is the nature of writing about something which is an intense subject of research. I must also say that I found some of Harrison's assertions about architectural alignments dubious. Certainly, I could not see how his maps could support all his claims. Nevertheless, I would heartily recommend this book.