The Myths of the Opossum: Pathways of Mesoamerican MythologyPublished in 1990 under the title Los mitos del tlacuache, this is the first major theoretical study of Mesoamerican mythology by one of the foremost scholars of Aztec ideology. Using the myth cycle of the opossum and the theft of fire from the gods as a touchstone, Lopez Austin constructs a definition of myth that pertains to all of Mesoamerican culture, challenging the notion that to be relevant such studies must occur within a specific culture. Shown here is that much of modern mythology has ancient roots, despite syncretism with Christianity, and can be used to elucidate the pre-Columbian world view. Analysis of pre-Columbian myths can also be used to understand current indigenous myths. Subtopics include the hero and his place in the Mesoamerican pantheon, divine space and human space, mythic event clusters, myth as truth, and the fusion of myth and history. This book presents a unique description of the Mesoamerican world view for students of comparative religion, history of religion, folklore, ethnology, and anthropology. |
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The Myths of the Opossum: Pathways of Mesoamerican Mythology Alfredo López Austin No preview available - 2011 |
Common terms and phrases
According action adventures ancient Nahua animals attributes bacabs beginning believe body called Carrasco celestial changes chapter characteristics characters Chatino Chichimec Chilam Balam Chinantec Chinantla classification complex concept corn cosmic creation cultural domains earth elements episodes example existence explain expression fire four García genre give goddess gods groups Huichol Huitzilopochtli human Ichon important inchoation inchoative indigenous invisible kind Leyenda literary López Austin Lord Maya Mazatec means Mesoamerican religious tradition Mesoamerican tradition Mexico City miracle Mixtec monkey Moon myth-belief myth-narration mythic belief mythic narration mythic tale Nahua Nahuatl narrative nature nodal subjects opossum opposition oral origin Otomi Popol vuh problem processes produced pulque Quetzalcoatl Quiche reality refer relationships religion ritual sacred Sahagún says Siglo Veintiuno similar social society specific story supernatural symbols Tamoanchan Teotihuacan Tezcatlipoca thought tion tlatoani Totonac Trans transformation tree Tzotzil underworld versions Zapotec