Handbook of Mesoamerican Mythology

Critically acclaimed introduction of broad scope to the myths of Mesoamerica from ancient times to the present.

Kay Almere Read is an associate professor of comparative religion at DePaul University in Chicago. Jason J. Gonzalez is a graduate student in anthropology, specializing in Maya archaeology, at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

Preface

xi

Introduction

1

(78)

Myths and the Real World

4

(3)

The Mesoamerican Mythmakers

7

(25)

Who are the Mesoamericans?

7

(5)

How Do We Know about Mesoamericans?

12

(6)

The Mythmakers' Worldviews

18

(2)

Cosmic Topography

20

(4)

Power-filled Inhabitants

24

(2)

Calendrically Determined Transformation

26

(3)

Sacrifice

29

(3)

Mesoamerican Cultural History

32

(44)

The Paleo-Indian (ca. 25,000 B.C.--7000 B.C.)

36

(1)

The Archaic (ca. 7000--2000 B.C.)

37

(1)

The Preclassic Period (ca. 2000 B.C.--A.D. 250)

38

(7)

The Classic Period (ca. A.D. 250--900/1000)

45

(7)

The Postclassic Period (ca. A.D. 900/1000--1521)

52

(8)

The Spanish Conquest and Colonization of Mesoamerica (1521--1808)

60

(7)

Independence to the Present (1808--2000)

67

(9)

Notes

76

(3)

Mythic Timelines

79

(48)

Two Mythic Histories: K'iche' and Nahua

81

(33)

K'iche' Maya History

81

(9)

Nahua History

90

(24)

Mythological Time

114

(9)

Time's Purpose

115

(2)

Time's Workings

117

(6)

Notes

123

(4)

Deities, Themes, and Concepts

127

(140)

Acamapichtli, Lord

127

(1)

Ahuitzotl, Lord

128

(2)

Ajitz C'oxol

130

(1)

Bacabs

130

(2)

Bats

132

(2)

Blood Woman

134

(1)

Calendar Deities

135

(2)

Canek

137

(2)

Chac and the Chacs

139

(1)

Chalchiuhtlicue

140

(3)

Christ

143

(4)

Cihuacoatl

147

(2)

Cizin

149

(1)

Coatlicue

150

(2)

Cortes, Fernando (Hernan)

152

(2)

Coyolxauhqui

154

(2)

Cuauhtemoc, Lord

156

(2)

Dead, Day of the

158

(3)

Deer

161

(3)

Devil

164

(6)

Dogs

170

(3)

Earth, Agricultural, and Hunting Deities

173

(7)

Feathered Serpents

180

(3)

Fifth Sun

183

(1)

God L

184

(1)

Guadalupe, Virgin of

185

(5)

Gukumatz

190

(1)

Hero Twins (Hunahpu and Xbalanque)

191

(2)

Hutizilopochtli

193

(2)

Hunab Ku

195

(1)

Itzamna

196

(2)

Ix Chel

198

(2)

Jurakan

200

(1)

Kinich Ahau

200

(1)

Kukulcan

201

(1)

La Llorona

202

(2)

Malinche

204

(3)

Moon

207

(4)

Motecuhzoma I (Ilhuicamina), Lord

211

(2)

Motecuhzoma II (Xocoyotzin), Lord

213

(2)

Nahual (Nagual)

215

(2)

1-Death (Hun Came) and 7-Death (Vucub Came)

217

(1)

Opossums

218

(3)

Pacal

221

(2)

Quetzalcoatl

223

(5)

Rain and Water Deities

228

(4)

Saints

232

(6)

Sky Deities and Beings

238

(8)

Sun

246

(4)

Tezcatlipoca

250

(4)

Tizoc, Lord

254

(1)

Tlacaellel

255

(1)

Tlaloc and the Tlaloques

256

(2)

Underworld and Caves, Deities of the

258

(7)

Yum Kaax (Diving God)

265

(2)

Annotated Print and Nonprint Resources

267

(18)

Books and Articles

267

(7)

Videos

274

(4)

Pre-Conquest Mexican and Mayan

274

(2)

Post-Conquest--Contemporary Mexico

276

(1)

Contemporary Central America

277

(1)

Web Sites

278

(7)

General Mesoamerica

278

(2)

Maya

280

(3)

Ancient and Contemporary Mexico

283

(2)

Reference List

285

(18)

Glossary

303

(12)

Index

315

(22)

About the Authors

337

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Handbook of Mesoamerican Mythology

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials