Divinely sanctioned kingship is found among ancient civilizations throughout the world, but it has been a largely unexplored process in ancient Mesoamerica. Sacred kings, who played key roles in the emergence of complex urban society, first appeared among the Olmec on the Gulf Coast of Mexico around 900 B.C., but the full flowering of this phenomenon subsequently occurred in southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and western Honduras among the most brilliant of the New World civilizations, the Maya. This volume breaks new ground by documenting the development and exploring the manifestations of royal authority among the ancient Maya as well as their descendants, as revealed by the religious beliefs and ceremonies of the Maya today. Drawing on the most current archaeological, epigraphic, and art historical research of an impressive roster of Maya scholars, Lords of Creation addresses specific aspects of the central historical issues and seminal artworks that exemplify the primary characteristic of Maya divine kingship, the capacity of rulers to intercede between gods and men.

288 pages, 200 illustrations (152 full-color plates), 9 1/2 in. x 11 in. Hardcover; clothbound, with jacket.

Lords of Creation: The Origins of Sacred Maya Kinship, Hardcover
03-017936
Member Price: $54.00 each
Non-Member Price: $60.00 each


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