Myths of Central and South America: Maya, Aztecs, Incas and Others

Stepped pyramids, hanging bridges, paved roads, terraced farming, complex irrigation systems, an accurate calendar, and other outstanding inventions—as well as human sacrifices that could impress even the most experienced makers of horror films. If, as a child, you were engrossed in stories about the Indians of Central and South America, their bloodthirsty gods and cursed treasures, then it’s time to put on your Panama hat for sun protection, arm yourself with binoculars, a notebook, and this book, and head into the dangerous tropical jungles to unravel the mysteries of civilizations long gone!

Under this cover you’ll find a cultural history and mythology of the great pre-Columbian civilizations of America: the Maya, the Aztecs, the Incas, the Toltecs, the Olmecs, the Zapotecs, the Nasca people, and others. You’ll visit ancient mega-cities—Machu Picchu, Cusco, Chichén Itzá—learn how Maya science took shape (yes, people in that region also had their own Henry Schliemans), how American Indians created architectural masterpieces without draft animals or the wheel, what rituals they used to appease their strict gods, and how, with the conquest of Tenochtitlan by Cortez’s conquistadors, the story of the last great civilization of Mesoamerica came to an end.

Why did the Aztecs hold “flower wars”? How can you tell the cacao god Ek-Chuaha from the corn god Yum Kaash? And according to the Maya book “Popol Vuh,” how was the world created—and how many attempts did the Indian gods need to create a human?

This book will be a special gift for everyone who loves mythology and folklore, for travelers planning future trips, and for anyone who wants to touch the rich cultural heritage of this vibrant region.