One of the great documents of colonial Mexico, the Codex Chimalpopoca chronicles the rise of Aztec civilization and preserves the mythology on which it was based. Its two complementary texts, Annals of Cuauhtitlan and Legend of the Suns, record the pre-CortŽsian history of the Valley of Mexico together with firsthand versions of that region's myths. Of particular interest are the stories of the hero-god Quetzalcoatl, for which the Chimalpopoca is the premier source. John Bierhorst's work is the first major scholarship on the Codex Chimalpopoca in more than forty years. His is the first edition in English and the first in any language to include the complete text of the Legend of the Suns. The precise, readable translation not only contributes to the study of Aztec history and literature but also makes the codex an indispensable reference for Aztec cultural topics, including land tenure, statecraft, the role of women, the tribute system, warfare, and human sacrifice.

One of the great documents of colonial Mexico, the Codex Chimalpopoca chronicles the rise of Aztec civilization and preserves the mythology on which it was based. Its two complementary texts, Annals of Cuauhtitlan and Legend of the Suns, record the pre-Cortésian history of the Valley of Mexico together with firsthand versions of that region's myths. Of particular interest are the stories of the hero-god Quetzalcoatl, for which the Chimalpopoca is the premier source. John Bierhorst's work is the first major scholarship on the Codex Chimalpopoca in more than forty years. His is the first edition in English and the first in any language to include the complete text of the Legend of the Suns. The precise, readable translation not only contributes to the study of Aztec history and literature but also makes the codex an indispensable reference for Aztec cultural topics, including land tenure, statecraft, the role of women, the tribute system, warfare, and human sacrifice.

In this companion volume to History and Mythology of the Aztecs, John Bierhorst provides specialists with a transcription of the Nahuatl text, keyed to the translation, and a linguistic apparatus to help elucidate it. The glossary offers definitions for all unusual usages in the codex, as well as careful treatment of many of the commonest (and most semantically flexible) verbs, adverbs, and particles. Detailed discussions of selected features appear in the Grammatical Notes, which complete the work.

Fifth Sun offers a comprehensive history of the Aztecs, spanning the period before conquest to a century after the conquest, based on rarely-used Nahuatl-language sources written by the indigenous people.

Re-Creating Primordial Time offers a new perspective on the Maya codices, documenting the extensive use of creation mythology and foundational rituals in the hieroglyphic texts and iconography of these important manuscripts. Focusing on both pre-Columbian codices and early colonial creation accounts, Vail and Hernández show that in spite of significant cultural change during the Postclassic and Colonial periods, the mythological traditions reveal significant continuity, beginning as far back as the Classic period. Remarkable similarities exist within the Maya tradition, even as new mythologies were introduced through contact with the Gulf Coast region and highland central Mexico. Vail and Hernández analyze the extant Maya codices within the context of later literary sources such as the Books of Chilam Balam, the Popol Vuh, and the Códice Chimalpopoca to present numerous examples highlighting the relationship among creation mythology, rituals, and lore. Compiling and comparing Maya creation mythology with that of the Borgia codices from highland central Mexico, Re-Creating Primordial Time is a significant contribution to the field of Mesoamerican studies and will be of interest to scholars of archaeology, linguistics, epigraphy, and comparative religions alike.

Myths: tales of creation and destruction, death and rebirth, gods and heroes, the sacred origins of peoples, the forces of nature. Each society's mythology is unique, echoing throughout its arts and beliefs. Handbooks of World Mythology explore these mythologies in depth, offering insight into the complex interrelations of myth, history, and culture. Designed for general readers and students, each illustrated handbook offers: A lengthy overview that introduces the reader to the evolution of the culture's belief system; A chronology that clarifies the working and purpose of time and mythic time within the culture; A-to-Z entries that address major deities, characters, themes, rituals, and beliefs of the society in cultural context; Annotated bibliographies of introductory and scholarly publications, websites, fiction and poetry, and film; Glossary of cultural and mythological terms; Thorough subject index for fast and easy access to content; The dead entering the underworld on the backs of yellow dogs-turquoise snakes bursting into flames-gods creating humans from corn and water, Mesoamerican mythology is full of such fascinating events. This guide covers all of Mesoamerica from ancient times to the present, including the interweaving of mythology and Christianity within each culture. The book features: An introduction, providing background for the culture and placing the mythology in social and historical context; A discussion of time and how it functions historically and in mythology; An annotated bibliography, pointing the beginning researcher to the best print and nonprint sources on the topic. An ideal introduction to the subject, the handbook explores how the Mesoamerican peoples shaped their myths according to their geographical, historical, and social milieus. Critically acclaimed introduction of broad scope to the myths of Mesoamerica from ancient times to the present. An introduction and reference for students, teachers, and general readers, focusing on pre-conquest Mexican highland and Maya areas, with small forays into Oaxaca and other nearby locations. Read (religious studies, DePaul U.) and Maya archaeologist Gonzalez examine Mesoamerican mythmakers and cultural history; mythic timelines; deities, themes, and concepts; and annotated print and nonprint resources.

"Essential two-volume translations of recently discovered examples of Chimalpahin's work held by the Bible Society Library at Cambridge Univ., given in parallel with transcriptions of Nahuatl texts. In both volumes, brief introductions by Schroeder provide useful information about Chimalpahin and his work. In v. 1, Ruwet provides as well a 'Physical Description of the Manuscripts.' An important addition to the growing body of indigenous language records and accounts in translation"--Handbook of Latin American Studies, v. 58.