The Myths of Mexico & Peru (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Aztecs and Incas Folklore & LegendsBy Lewis Spence
Length11h 46m
About this audiobook
The Myths of Mexico & Peru offers a comparative survey of the sacred narratives, cosmologies, divine figures, and ritual traditions of the great Indigenous civilizations of Mesoamerica and the Andes. Lewis Spence draws on chronicles, codices, archaeological reports, and early ethnographic materials to reconstruct mythic worlds shaped by creation cycles, solar worship, hero legends, and sacrificial rites. Written in the lucid, synthetic style characteristic of early twentieth-century mythography, the book belongs to a period when European scholars sought to organize non-classical mythologies within a global history of religion. Lewis Spence was a Scottish journalist, folklorist, poet, and prolific student of myth, best known for popularizing Celtic, Egyptian, and American Indigenous traditions for English-language readers. His broad antiquarian interests, combined with the comparative methods of his age, led him to treat Mexican and Peruvian myth not as curiosities, but as sophisticated symbolic systems worthy of sustained attention, even when filtered through the limitations of colonial sources. This volume is recommended to readers interested in mythology, comparative religion, Latin American antiquity, and the intellectual history of folklore studies. While modern scholarship has revised many of Spence's assumptions, his work remains valuable as an ambitious, accessible gateway into the mythic imagination of the Aztec, Maya, Inca, and related cultures.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★ 3.3 (153)
Includes Goodreads
GenrePsychology
Length11 hrs 46 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJul 16, 2020
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5The Myths of Mexico & Peru
Show all chaptersShow less
6Preface
7Chapter I: The Civilisation of Mexico
8Chapter II: Mexican Mythology
9Chapter III: Myths and Legends of the Ancient Mexicans
10Chapter IV: The Maya Race and Mythology
11Chapter V: Myths of the Maya
12Chapter VI: The Civilisation of Old Peru
13Chapter VII: The Mythology of Peru
14Note on the Pronunciation of the Mexican, Mayan, and Peruvian Languages
15Analysis
16Reflection
17Memorable Quotes
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