In this Book
- Cosmology, Calendars, and Horizon-Based Astronomy in Ancient Mesoamerica
- Book
- 2015
- Published by: University Press of Colorado
summary
Cosmology, Calendars, and Horizon-Based Astronomy in Ancient Mesoamerica is an interdisciplinary tour de force that establishes the critical role astronomy played in the religious and civic lives of the ancient peoples of Mesoamerica. Providing extraordinary examples of how Precolumbian peoples merged ideas about the cosmos with those concerning calendar and astronomy, the volume showcases the value of detailed examinations of astronomical data for understanding ancient cultures.
The volume is divided into three sections: investigations into Mesoamerican horizon-based astronomy, the cosmological principles expressed in Mesoamerican religious imagery and rituals related to astronomy, and the aspects of Mesoamerican calendars related to archaeoastronomy. It also provides cutting-edge research on diverse topics such as records of calendar and horizon-based astronomical observation (like the Dresden and Borgia codices), iconography of burial assemblages, architectural alignment studies, urban planning, and counting or measuring devices.
Contributors—who are among the most respected in their fields— explore new dimensions in Mesoamerican timekeeping and skywatching in the Olmec, Maya, Teotihuacano, Zapotec, and Aztec cultures. It will be of great interest to students and scholars of anthropology, archaeology, art history, and astronomy.
The volume is divided into three sections: investigations into Mesoamerican horizon-based astronomy, the cosmological principles expressed in Mesoamerican religious imagery and rituals related to astronomy, and the aspects of Mesoamerican calendars related to archaeoastronomy. It also provides cutting-edge research on diverse topics such as records of calendar and horizon-based astronomical observation (like the Dresden and Borgia codices), iconography of burial assemblages, architectural alignment studies, urban planning, and counting or measuring devices.
Contributors—who are among the most respected in their fields— explore new dimensions in Mesoamerican timekeeping and skywatching in the Olmec, Maya, Teotihuacano, Zapotec, and Aztec cultures. It will be of great interest to students and scholars of anthropology, archaeology, art history, and astronomy.
Table of Contents
Download Full Book
- Acknowledgments
- p. xxix
- Part I: Introduction
- Part II: Horizon-Based Astronomy
- 3. Maya Architectural Hierophanies
- pp. 37-76
- Part III: Cosmological Principles
- 6. A Seasonal Calendar in the Codex Borgia
- pp. 139-162
- Part IV: Calendar Records
- Part V: Conclusion
- 14. Maya Books and Buildings at Baktun’s End
- pp. 353-362
- Contributors
- pp. 363-370
Additional Information
ISBN
9781607323792
Related ISBN(s)
9781607323785, 9781646420766
MARC Record
OCLC
905949452
Pages
440
Launched on MUSE
2015-03-31
Language
English
Open Access
No