The Aztec Myths: A Guide to the Ancient Stories and Legends by Camilla Townsend

The Nile on eBay   The Aztec Myths by Camilla Townsend

The essential guide to the world of Aztec mythology, based on Nahuatl-language sources that challenge the colonial history passed down to us by the Spanish.

FORMATHardcover CONDITIONBrand New Publisher Description

The essential guide to the world of Aztec mythology, based on Nahuatl-language sources that challenge the colonial history passed down to us by the Spanish. How did the jaguar get his spots? What happened to the four suns that came before our own? Where was Aztlan, mythical homeland of the Aztecs?For decades, the popular image of the Mexica people - better known today as the Aztecs - has been defined by the Spaniards who conquered them. Their salacious stories of pet snakes, human sacrifice and towering skull racks have masked a complex world of religious belief.To reveal the rich mythic tapestry of the Aztecs, Camilla Townsend returns to the original tales, told at the fireside by generations of Indigenous Nahuatl-speakers. Through their voices we learn the contested histories of the Mexica and their neighbours in the Valley of Mexico - the foundations of great cities, the making and breaking of political alliances, the meddling of sometimes bloodthirsty gods - and understand more clearly how they saw their world and their place in it. The divine principle of Ipalnemoani connected humans with all of nature and spiritual beliefs were woven through the fabric of Aztec life, from the sacred ministrations of the ticitl, midwives whose rituals saw women through childbirth, to the inevitable passage to Mictlan, 'our place of disappearing together' - the land of the dead.

Author Biography

Camilla Townsend is Distinguished Professor of History at Rutgers University and a vocal supporter of the rights of indigenous peoples. She is the author of numerous books, including Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztecs, which won the Cundill History Prize in 2020. Her other books include Malintzin's Choices: An Indian Woman in the Conquest of Mexico, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma and The Annals of Native America: How the Nahuas of Colonial Mexico Kept Their History Alive.

Table of Contents

Introduction1. What are the Aztec Myths?2. The Divine Universe3. The Beginnings of Human Society4. Legends of History5. Talking to the Divine6. Epilogue: Adapting to the New World

Review

'Townsend succeeds magnificently in conjuring up the world of Mexico-Tenochtitlan ... It is a tale of high politics, spy dramas and divine intervention, where gods and sorcerers mingled with rulers and wise women. It is a credit to the author that she succeeds in packing so much nuance and detail into this enjoyable and accessible short text. The book shows a world that matters ... To centre these histories is an act of resistance that enriches our understanding and enlivens our imagination' - Caroline Dodds Pennock, BBC History

Promotional

The essential guide to the world of Aztec mythology, based on Nahuatl-language sources that challenge the colonial history passed down to us by the Spanish

Details ISBN0500025533 Author Camilla Townsend Publisher Thames & Hudson Ltd Series Myths Year 2024 ISBN-13 9780500025536 Format Hardcover Publication Date 2024-05-02 Imprint Thames & Hudson Ltd Subtitle A Guide to the Ancient Stories and Legends Place of Publication London Country of Publication United Kingdom Audience General UK Release Date 2024-05-02 ISBN-10 0500025533 Pages 208 AU Release Date 2024-05-01 Illustrations 112 Halftones, duotone DEWEY 299.78452013 We've got this

At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it.With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love!

TheNile_Item_ID:159871588;