The Myths of Mexico & Peru is a detailed study on the history and mythology of ancient Aztecs and Incas, providing valuable information to allow understanding into the background of Latin American heritage. The book includes tales of the myths of creations, legends of numerous Mesoamerican Gods, such as Quetzalcoatl, Tlaloc, Tezcatlipoca and Huitzilopochtli, and many other interesting folk tales of the ancient tribes of Mexico and Peru.

"The Myths of Mexico & Peru" is a book written by Lewis Spence, a Scottish author, journalist, and folklorist. Published in 1913, this work delves into the rich mythological traditions of two ancient civilizations: Mexico and Peru. Spence explores the myths, legends, and religious beliefs of these civilizations, shedding light on their cosmology, deities, creation stories, and cultural practices. Through meticulous research and analysis, he offers insights into the symbolic significance of various myths and their relevance to the societies that produced them. "The Myths of Mexico & Peru" provides readers with a comprehensive understanding of the mythological heritage of these indigenous cultures, highlighting the enduring impact of their beliefs on art, literature, and spirituality. Spence's work serves as a valuable resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in Mesoamerican and Andean mythology.

A classic amongst mythologists examining Central and South America's pre-colonial past. "A model of sound knowledge, crystallized in an attractive form, and enlivened by original criticism. Mr. Spence succeeds in giving his readers, in an hour, a comprehensive view of the nature of the Mexican and Peruvian religions, corrected up to the latest guesses of modern research, with sufficient detail of those terrible and picturesque rites and mythologies to attract the attention and impress the memory. The first and last of his six short chapters he devotes to epitomizing the latest surmises as to the origin of American peoples and religions, and the question of foreign influence on the latter….The religion of the Peruvians was much more naturalistic than that of the Mexicans….Mr. Spence also notices that behind and above the theocracy of Peru, and the polytheism of both countries, celebrated as it was in Mexico by atrocious ritual massacres, was the idea of One Supreme Being, to Whom appeal was made, especially in the rites of confession and absolution. The many gods were but, as it were, the personification of His attributes. Mr. Spence is of those who, hold that 'the knowledge of that power is inalienable from the mind of man.' He notices also that the sacrifices of the Mexicans were probably, and in some cases certainly, offered, not to appease the gods, but to nourish them. A possible parallel occurs to us in those curious texts of the Mosaic law and prophecies." -The Academy, Volume 74, 1908 "In this study of Mexican and Peruvian mythology, the reader is introduced into a sphere of the most fascinating interest - the attitude towards the eternal verities of the people of a new and isolated world." -The Open Court, 1911 CONTENTS I. The Origin of American Religions II. Mexican Mythology III. The Priesthood and Ritual of the Ancient Mexicans IV. The Religion of the Ancient Peruvians V. Peruvian Ritual and Worship VI. The Question of Foreign Influence upon the Religions of America A List of Select Books bearing on the Subject

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.