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. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 45
Page 7
... versions takes us back to the era before humans possessed fire . In some cases fire was owned by celestial beings , in others , by inhabitants of the underworld . One of the most com- monly cited owners is an old miserly woman ; in ...
... versions takes us back to the era before humans possessed fire . In some cases fire was owned by celestial beings , in others , by inhabitants of the underworld . One of the most com- monly cited owners is an old miserly woman ; in ...
Page 216
... versions of a myth are the same , similar , or equivalent . In fact there is no typical myth , but a collection of versions of the same myth that approach or diverge from typicality . What is typical is a matter of degree . There may ...
... versions of a myth are the same , similar , or equivalent . In fact there is no typical myth , but a collection of versions of the same myth that approach or diverge from typicality . What is typical is a matter of degree . There may ...
Page 262
... versions . One example , although not Mesoamerican , is a classic in the history of religion . In the biblical story of the creation of man , the two versions are quite different messages ( Frazer 1981 : 9-25 ) . In the version given in ...
... versions . One example , although not Mesoamerican , is a classic in the history of religion . In the biblical story of the creation of man , the two versions are quite different messages ( Frazer 1981 : 9-25 ) . In the version given in ...
Contents
The Comings and Goings of a Marsupial | 1 |
Home of the Gods | 10 |
The Point of Departure | 24 |
Copyright | |
24 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
The Myths of the Opossum: Pathways of Mesoamerican Mythology Alfredo López Austin No preview available - 2011 |
Common terms and phrases
according action adventure ancestors ancient Nahua animals attributes bacabs beginning birth body calendar called Carrasco changes chapter character characteristics Chatino Chichimec Chilam Balam Chinantec Chinantla classification complex concept corn cosmic created creation cultural divine forces earth Ehecatl elements episodes everything example existence explain expression fire four functions García genre give goddess gods groups Huichol Huitzilopochtli important inchoation indigenous invisible kinds Leyenda literary López Austin Lord Maya Mazatec meaning Mesoamerican religious Mesoamerican tradition Mexico City Mixtec Moon myth myth-belief myth-narration mythic belief mythic narration mythic tale Nahuatl Nanahuatzin narrative nature nodal subjects opossum opposition origin Otomi Popol vuh problem processes produced pulque Quetzalcoatl reality refer relationships religion religious tradition ritual sacred Sahagún similar social society sources specific story supernatural symbols Tamoanchan Teotihuacan Tezcatlipoca thought tion tlatoani Totonac transformation tree Tzotzil underworld versions woman Zapotec