Download or read book Cenote of Sacrifice written by Clemency Chase Coggins and published by University of Texas Press. This book was released on 2014-10-03 with total page 177 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Chichén Itzá ("mouth of the well of the Itza") was one of the great centers of civilization in prehistoric America, serving between the eighth and twelfth centuries A.D. as a religious, economic, social, and political capital on the Yucatán Peninsula. Within the ancient city there were many natural wells or cenotes. One, within the ceremonial heart of the city, is an impressive natural feature with vertical limestone walls enclosing a deep pool of jade green water some eighty feet below ground level. This cenote, which gave the city its name, became a sacred shrine of Maya pilgrimage, described by one post-Conquest observer as similar to Jerusalem and Rome. Here, during the city's ascendancy and for centuries after its decline, the peoples of Yucatán consulted their gods and made ritual offerings of precious objects and living victims who were thought to receive prophecies. Although the well was described by Bishop Diego de Landa in the late sixteenth century, its contents were not known until the early 1900s when revealed by the work of Edward H. Thompson. Conducting excavations for the Peabody Museum of Harvard University, Thompson recovered almost thirty thousand artifacts, most ceremonially broken and many beautifully preserved by burial in the deep silt at the bottom of the well. The materials were sent to the Peabody Museum, where they remained, unexhibited, for over seventy years. In 1984, for the first time, nearly three hundred objects of gold, jade, copper, pottery, wood, copal, textile, and other materials from the collection were gathered into a traveling interpretive exhibition. No other archaeological exhibition had previously given this glimpse into Maya ritual life because no other collection had objects such as those found in the Sacred Cenote. Moreover, the objects from the Cenote come from throughout Mesoamerica and lower Central America, representing many artistic traditions. The exhibit and this, its accompanying catalog, marked the first time all of the different kinds of offerings have ever been displayed together, and the first time many have been published. Essays by Gordon R. Willey and Linnea H. Wren place the Cenote of Sacrifice and the great Maya city of Chichén Itzá within the larger context of Maya archaeology and history. The catalog entries, written by Clemency Chase Coggins, describe the objects displayed in the traveling exhibition. Some entries are brief descriptive statements; others develop short scholarly themes bearing on the function and interpretation of specific objects. Coggins' introductory essay describes how the objects were collected by Thompson and how the exhibition collection has been studied to reveal the periods of Cenote ritual and the changing practices of offering to the Sacred Cenote.

Download or read book Landscapes of the Itza written by Linnea Wren and published by University Press of Florida. This book was released on 2017-12-12 with total page 319 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "An insightful collection, rich in new data and insights; at once the harvest of a generation of fieldwork and the foundation for work to come."--Mary E. Miller, coauthor of The Spectacle of the Late Maya Court: Reflections on the Murals of Bonampak "Reminds us that there are always new things to learn about iconic places like Chichen Itza and that we can fall in love with them all over again."--Jennifer P. Mathews, coeditor of Lifeways in the Northern Maya Lowlands: New Approaches to Archaeology in the Yucatan Peninsula "Long overdue. Brings together new data and interpretations about Chichen Itza through a refreshing mix of art history and archaeology, particularistic interpretation, and cross-cultural modeling."--Scott R. Hutson, author of The Ancient Urban Maya: Neighborhoods, Inequality, and Built Form Chichen Itza, the legendary capital and trading hub of the late Maya civilization, continues to fascinate visitors and researchers with unanswered questions about its people, rulers, rituals, economics, religion, politics, and even chronology. Addressing many of these current debates, contributors to Landscapes of the Itza question when the city's construction was completed, what the purposes of its famous pyramid and other buildings were, whether the city maintained strict territorial borders, and how the city's influence was felt in smaller neighboring settlements such as Popola, Ichmul de Morley, and Ek Balam. Special attention is given to the site's visual culture, including its architecture, epigraphy, ceramics, sculptures, and murals. This volume is a much-needed update on recent archaeological and art historical work being done at Chichen Itza, offering new ways of understanding the site and its role in the Yucatan landscape.

Download or read book Chichen Itza Mexico 1895 written by William Henry 1846-1933 Holmes and published by Legare Street Press. This book was released on 2023-07-18 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This rare and fascinating volume offers a glimpse into the rich cultural history of the ancient Maya city of Chichen Itza, as seen through the eyes of renowned archaeologist William Henry Holmes. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Download or read book In the Museum of Maya Culture written by Quetzil E. Castañeda and published by . This book was released on 1996 with total page 341 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Very interesting discussion of the ways in which anthropology, tourism, archaeology, and popular culture all contribute to the creation of the Maya as a social unit and Chichen Itza as a place"--Handbook of Latin American Studies, v. 57.

Download or read book Chich n Itz written by Sara Green and published by Bellwether Media. This book was released on 2020-08-01 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Chichén Itzá is more than 1,000 years old. At its center is a tall pyramid built to honor the Maya snake god Kukulcan! This fact-filled book introduces the pyramid, temples, observatories, and other structures found in this ancient city. With engaging text and photos to guide them, readers will dive into treasure-filled cenotes and climb atop ancient ruins. Along the way, they’ll discover the history and purpose of Chichén Itzá. Special features such as a map, a timeline, a comparison graphic, and a pop culture connection add even more to explore!

Download or read book Incidents of Travel in Central America Chiapas and Yucatan written by John L. Stephens and published by . This book was released on 1871 with total page 592 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Chichen Itza written by Charles River Charles River Editors and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-01-04 with total page 48 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *Includes pictures of Chichen Itza's ruins and art. *Explains the history of the site and the theories about its purpose and abandonment. *Describes the layout of Chichen Itza, its important structures, and the theories about the buildings' uses. *Includes a bibliography for further reading. Many ancient civilizations have influenced and inspired people in the 21st century, like the Greeks and the Romans, but of all the world's civilizations, none have intrigued people more than the Mayans, whose culture, astronomy, language, and mysterious disappearance all continue to captivate people. At the heart of the fascination is the most visited and the most spectacular of Late Classic Maya cities: Chichen Itza. Chichen Itza was inhabited for hundreds of years and was a very influential center in the later years of Maya civilization. At its height, Chichen Itza may have had over 30,000 inhabitants, and with a spectacular pyramid, enormous ball court, observatory and several temples, the builders of this city exceeded even those at Uxmal in developing the use of columns and exterior relief decoration. Of particular interest at Chichen Itza is the sacred cenote, a sinkhole was a focus for Maya rituals around water. Because adequate supplies of water, which rarely collected on the surface of the limestone based Yucatan, were essential for adequate agricultural production, the Maya here considered it of primary importance. Underwater archaeology carried out in the cenote at Chichen Itza revealed that offerings to the Maya rain deity Chaac (which may have included people) were tossed into the sinkhole. Although Chichen Itza was around for hundreds of years, it had a relatively short period of dominance in the region, lasting from about 800-950 A.D. Today, tourists are taken by guides to a building called the Nunnery for no good reason other than the small rooms reminded the Spaniards of a nunnery back home. Similarly the great pyramid at Chichen Itza is designated El Castillo ("The Castle"), which it almost certainly was not, while the observatory is called El Caracol ("The Snail") for its spiral staircase. Of course, the actual names for these places were lost as the great Maya cities began to lose their populations, one by one. Chichen Itza was partially abandoned in 948, and the culture of the Maya survived in a disorganized way until it was revived at Mayapan around 1200. Why Maya cities were abandoned and left to be overgrown by the jungle is a puzzle that intrigues people around the world today, especially those who have a penchant for speculating on lost civilizations. Chichen Itza: The History and Mystery of the Maya's Most Famous City comprehensively covers the history of the city, as well as the speculation surrounding the purpose of Chichen Itza and the debate over the buildings. Along with pictures and a bibliography, you will learn about the Maya's most famous city like you never have before, in no time at all. "

Download or read book Twin Tollans written by Cynthia Kristan-Graham and published by Dumbarton Oaks. This book was released on 2007 with total page 658 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume had its beginnings in the two-day colloquium, "Rethinking Chichén Itzá, Tula and Tollan," that was held at Dumbarton Oaks. The selected essays revisit long-standing questions regarding the nature of the relationship between Chichen Itza and Tula. Rather than approaching these questions through the notions of migrations and conquests, these essays place the cities in the context of the emerging social, political, and economic relationships that took shape during the transition from the Epiclassic period in Central Mexico, the Terminal Classic period in the Maya region, and the succeeding Early Postclassic period.

Download or read book The Man who Owned a Wonder of the World written by Evan J. Albright and published by Pickwick Books. This book was released on 2015 with total page 492 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "In 2007 the ancient Maya city of Chichén Itzá in Yucatán, Mexico, was named one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. The honor came with a shocking revelation -- Mexico’s greatest archaeological treasure was private property! How could one family own one of the archaeological crown jewels of Mexico? The answer was more incredible -- they had bought Chichén Itzá from an American, Edward H. Thompson, who had owned the ancient city for half a century. Thompson, an archaeologist, explored Chichén and had made one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in North America. All it cost him was his reputation, his fortune, and even his life. In this gripping non-fiction narrative, award-winning writer Evan J. Albright travels to Yucatán to investigate Thompson's incredible true story and stumbles upon the explorer’s biggest secret--the son he left behind."--

Download or read book Wicca written by Ethan Doyle White and published by Liverpool University Press. This book was released on 2015-10-01 with total page 287 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The past century has born witness to a growing interest in the belief systems of ancient Europe, with an array of contemporary Pagan groups claiming to revive these old ways for the needs of the modern world. By far the largest and best known of these Paganisms has been Wicca, a new religious movement that can now count hundreds of thousands of adherents worldwide. Emerging from the occult milieu of mid twentieth-century Britain, Wicca was first presented as the survival of an ancient pre-Christian Witch-Cult, whose participants assembled in covens to venerate their Horned God and Mother Goddess, to celebrate seasonal festivities, and to cast spells by the light of the full moon. Spreading to North America, where it diversified under the impact of environmentalism, feminism, and the 1960s counter-culture, Wicca came to be presented as a Goddess-centred nature religion, in which form it was popularised by a number of best-selling authors and fictional television shows. Today, Wicca is a maturing religious movement replete with its own distinct world-view, unique culture, and internal divisions. This book represents the first published academic introduction to be exclusively devoted to this fascinating faith, exploring how this Witches' Craft developed, what its participants believe and practice, and what the Wiccan community actually looks like. In doing so it sweeps away widely-held misconceptions and offers a comprehensive overview of this religion in all of its varied forms. Drawing upon the work of historians, anthropologists, sociologists, and scholars of religious studies, as well as the writings of Wiccans themselves, it provides an original synthesis that will be invaluable for anyone seeking to learn about the blossoming religion of modern Pagan Witchcraft.

Download or read book The Art of 3D Drawing written by Stefan Pabst and published by Walter Foster. This book was released on 2016-11-14 with total page 131 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Artists won't believe their eyes as they learn to draw with photorealistic detail. The Art of 3D Drawing shows artists how to transform simple pencil sketches into jaw-dropping, photorealistic masterpieces. Through a variety of step-by-step exercises and demonstrations, pencil artists learn to take their drawing skills to a whole new level, beginning with a review of the basics, including perspective, shading, rendering textures, and building dimension. Practice lessons then demonstrate how to draw a range of subjects in realistic detail, from food and candy wrappers to animals and portraits. Finally, aspiring artists learn to use color media, including pencils and airbrushing, to add even greater dimension and realism to their artwork to complete their three-dimensional masterpieces.

Download or read book The People s Guide to Mexico written by Carl Franz and published by Rick Steves. This book was released on 2012-12-11 with total page 770 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Over the past 35 years, hundreds of thousands of readers have agreed: This is the classic guide to "living, traveling, and taking things as they come" in Mexico. Now in its updated 14th edition, The People's Guide to Mexico still offers the ideal combination of basic travel information, entertaining stories, and friendly guidance about everything from driving in Mexico City to hanging a hammock to bartering at the local mercado. Features include: • Advice on planning your trip, where to go, and how to get around once you're there • Practical tips to help you stay healthy and safe, deal with red tape, change money, send email, letters and packages, use the telephone, do laundry, order food, speak like a local, and more • Well-informed insight into Mexican culture, and hints for enjoying traditional fiestas and celebrations • The most complete information available on Mexican Internet resources, book and map reviews, and other info sources for travelers

Download or read book People of the Serpent written by Edward Herbert Thompson and published by . This book was released on 1932 with total page 360 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Most Famous Cities of the Maya written by Charles River Charles River Editors and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-02-20 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *Includes pictures*Describes the history and archaeology at each site*Includes a bibliography for further readingMany ancient civilizations have influenced and inspired people in the 21st century, like the Greeks and the Romans, but of all the world''s civilizations, none have intrigued people more than the Mayans, whose culture, astronomy, language, and mysterious disappearance all continue to captivate people. At the heart of the fascination is the most visited and the most spectacular of Late Classic Maya cities: Chich�n Itz�.Chich�n Itz� was inhabited for hundreds of years and was a very influential center in the later years of Maya civilization. At its height, Chich�n Itz� may have had over 30,000 inhabitants, and with a spectacular pyramid, enormous ball court, observatory and several temples, the builders of this city exceeded even those at Uxmal in developing the use of columns and exterior relief decoration. Of particular interest at Chich�n Itz� is the sacred cenote, a sinkhole was a focus for Maya rituals around water. Because adequate supplies of water, which rarely collected on the surface of the limestone based Yucatan, were essential for adequate agricultural production, the Maya here considered it of primary importance. Underwater archaeology carried out in the cenote at Chich�n Itz� revealed that offerings to the Maya rain deity Chaac (which may have included people) were tossed into the sinkhole. Early Mayap�n was closely connected to the overshadowing power of the region at the time: the mighty trading city of Chich�n Itz�. Mayap�n emerged first as a minor settlement in the orbit of Chich�n, but it slowly came to replace it after the larger city''s trade connections with the Toltecs of Tula crumbled and it suffered a staggering defeat by Mayap�n''s armies. The building styles and art in their city show both admiring references to the great Chich�n Itz� as well as an attempt to position Mayap�n as a more orthodox heir of Maya tradition. At the same time, they emulated many features and could not escape the tremendous influences - especially in religion - of Chich�n. This is seen in the fact that many of the most important buildings in the new city appear to be small-scale reproductions of ones in Chich�n.The Maya maintained power in the Yucatan for over a thousand years, and at the height of its "Classical era" (3rd-9th centuries CE), the city of Tikal was one of the power centers of the empire. Archaeologists believe Tikal had been built as early as the 5th or 4th century BC, and eventually it became a political, economic and military capital that was an important part of a far-flung network across Mesoamerica, despite the fact it was seemingly conquered by Teotihuacan in the 4th century CE. It seems the foreign rulers came to assimilate Mayan culture, thus ensuring Tikal would continue to be a power base, and as a result, the city would not be abandoned until about the 10th century CE.During the Maya''s Classical era, the city of Uxmal was one of its most noteworthy places. While it was not as powerful as cities like Tikal, Uxmal was apparently at the forefront of Mayan culture, particularly when it came to architecture. However, while Uxmal used high ground to display its prominence, and the ruins are still among the most popular places for tourists in the region, the site is still shrouded in mystery. Even as scholars continue to work on the site to further interpret it, it''s still unclear when exactly Uxmal was founded, how many people called it home, and when it was abandoned, despite the existence of Mayan chronicles and oral legends. What is apparent, however, is the skills of Uxmal''s artisans, whether through constructing structures like the five-level Pyramid of Magicians and the expansive Governor''s Palace or adorning the structures with precisely detailed art and sculptures. In fact, the craftsmanship can be credited with helping to preserve Uxmal itself.

Download or read book Ultimate Weekends Australia written by Emma Shaw and published by Ultimate. This book was released on 2021-11-17 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A stunning, inspirational and practical guide to 60 of the best weekends away across Australia.

Download or read book Sabores Yucatecos written by Gilberto Cetina and published by WPR Books: Comida. This book was released on 2011 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Cancun and the Riviera Maya written by and published by . This book was released on 2001-10 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The resort of Cancun on the Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula attracts visitors from the world over, who come to enjoy a unique experience that includes fabulous archaeological sites and excursions to nearby Cozumel, a scuba diver's paradise.