Aztec Myths & Tales

With a new Foreword by Anthony F. Aveni, this fascinating collection presents classic texts on the history, culture, gods, calendar, myths and tales of the Aztecs, Incas, Mayans and other Mesoamerican, Central American and Andean peoples, from migration legends to the origin myth of the Five Suns. Though the Olmecs (1250–200 BCE) were the first civilization in Mexico, the Aztecs (1325–1521) were Mesoamerica’s last dominant indigenous civilization and often the one that is thought about, without understanding the region's rich diversity. Like the other Mesoamerican cultures, Aztec gods and myths reflected a natural philosophy where ideas concerning life and death were linked symbolically to the earth, sky and sea in a grand cosmic scheme. Their religion was dominated by the tribal war god Huitzilopochtli, the rain/fertility god Tlaloc and the supreme deity Tezcatlipoca, the Lord of the Smoking Mirror. This collection brings together the stories and the history into a fine and collectable new volume in the Flame Tree Epic Tales series.

The Flame Tree Gothic Fantasy, Classic Stories and Epic Tales collections bring together the entire range of myth, folklore and modern short fiction. Highlighting the roots of suspense, supernatural, science fiction and mystery stories, the books in Flame Tree Collections series are beautifully presented, perfect as a gift and offer a lifetime of reading pleasure.

Dr. Anthony F. Aveni (Foreword) is the Russell Colgate Distinguished University Professor of Astronomy, Anthropology, and Native American Studies, Emeritus, at Colgate University. Aveni helped develop, and now is considered one of the founders of, cultural astronomy, in particular for his research into the astronomical history of the Aztec and Maya Indians of ancient Mexico. He has done similar research in North America, Peru, Israel, Italy and Greece. Aveni has involved his students in research through regular field trips to Central America and Peru to study history, hieroglyphic writing, calendars and architecture. In 2004, Aveni was the recipient of the H.B. Nicholson Award for Excellence in Mesoamerican Studies. He has more than 300 research publications to his credit, including articles in Science magazine, American Scientist, The Sciences, American Antiquity, Latin American Antiquity and The Journal of Archaeological Research. Aveni has written or edited more than 40 books, including Conversing With the Planets, a work that weaves together cosmology, mythology and the anthropology of ancient cultures, and Nasca: Eighth Wonder of the World.