Birds and Beasts of Ancient Mesoamerica : Animal Symbolism in the Postclassic Period

Birds and Beasts of Ancient Mesoamerica links Precolumbian animal imagery with scientific data related to animal morphology and behavior, providing in-depth studies of the symbolic importance of animals and birds in Postclassic period Mesoamerica. Representations of animal deities in Mesoamerica can be traced back at least to Middle Preclassic Olmec murals, stone carvings, and portable art such as lapidary work and ceramics. Throughout the history of Mesoamerica real animals were merged with fantastical creatures, creating zoological oddities not unlike medieval European bestiaries. According to Spanish chroniclers, the Aztec emperor was known to keep exotic animals in royal aviaries and zoos. The Postclassic period was characterized by an iconography that was shared from central Mexico to the Yucatan peninsula and south to Belize. In addition to highlighting the symbolic importance of nonhuman creatures in general, the volume focuses on the importance of the calendrical and astronomical symbolism associated with animals and birds. Inspired by and dedicated to the work of Mesoamerican scholar Cecelia Klein and featuring imagery from painted books, monumental sculpture, portable arts, and archaeological evidence from the field of zooarchaeology, Birds and Beasts of Ancient Mesoamerica highlights the significance of the animal world in Postclassic and early colonial Mesoamerica. It will be important to students and scholars studying Mesoamerican art history, archaeology, ethnohistory, and zoology. Birds and Beasts of Ancient Mesoamerica links Precolumbiananimal imagery with scientific data related to animal morphologyand behavior, providing in-depth studies of the symbolic importanceof animals and birds in Postclassic period Mesoamerica.Representations of animal deities in Mesoamerica can be traced backat least to Middle Preclassic Olmec murals, stone carvings, andportable art such as lapidary work and ceramics. Throughout thehistory of Mesoamerica real animals were merged with fantasticalcreatures, creating zoological oddities not unlike medievalEuropean bestiaries. According to Spanish chroniclers, the Aztecemperor was known to keep exotic animals in royal aviaries andzoos. The Postclassic period was characterized by an iconographythat was shared from central Mexico to the Yucatan peninsula andsouth to Belize. In addition to highlighting the symbolicimportance of nonhuman creatures in general, the volume focuses onthe importance of the calendrical and astronomical symbolismassociated with animals and birds. Inspired by and dedicated to thework of Mesoamerican scholar Cecelia Klein and featuring imageryfrom painted books, monumental sculpture, portable arts, andarchaeological evidence from the field of zooarchaeology, Birdsand Beasts of Ancient Mesoamerica highlights the significanceof the animal world in Postclassic and early colonial Mesoamerica.It will be important to students and scholars studying Mesoamericanart history, archaeology, ethnohistory, and zoology