“You can’t store corn in a basket with holes.”
The Mayan civilisation thrived across Mesoamerica between 250 and 1697 CE and has since gone down as one of the most marvelled and mysterious societies in human history. Renowned for their highly developed and incredibly sophisticated writing style, the Mayans dominated the region with their architecture, art, mathematics, music, calendar and astronomy.
From their beginnings to their demise, the religion and mythology held by the Mayans remained at the heart of their societies and everyday lives. Historians and archaeologists have spent hundreds of years painstakingly attempting to piece together the secrets behind their beliefs and practices, so why not catch up with some of the best Mayan mythology books here at What We Reading?
Popol Vuh – Dennis Tedlock
Popol Vuh, the Quiché Mayan book of creation, is one of the most significant written works in the native language of the Americas, and an enduring legacy on the capabilities of human imagination. Originally scribed in Mayan hieroglyphs, it wasn’t until the sixteenth century that it was first translated into the Roman alphabet.
Popol Vuh chronicles the deeds of the Gods in the primaeval sea all the way to the founding of the Quiche Kingdom in the Guatemalan Highlands. Denis Tedlock’s acclaimed 2022 translation features 40 new illustrations, notes, commentaries and recently translated hieroglyphs.
An Illustrated Dictionary Of The Gods And Symbols Of Ancient Mexico And The Maya – Mary Ellen Miller And Karl A. Taube
For one of the best Mayan mythology books that help unlock some of the biggest secrets from pre-Columbian civilisations across Mesoamerica, look no further than Mary Ellen Miller and Karl Taube’s Illustrated Dictionary.
The first attempt to capture and explain not only all the Gods, myths and symbols from the likes of the Maya, Aztecs, Teotihuacanos, Mixtecs, and Toltecs but also how their influence would extend into the everyday lives of their worshippers. With essays, survey reports, photographs, commissioned drawings and links to recent conversations on the subject, this book is the comprehensive guide for any scholar, historian or traveller.
Maya Mythology: Captivating Maya Myths Of Gods, Goddesses And Legendary Creatures – Matt Clayton
Covering everything from the legendary tale of the Hero Twins to the origins of the planet itself, Mayan Mythology offers a fresh perspective on how humanity has attempted to make sense of life, people and imagery.
In just 85 pages, Matt Clayton attempts to capture all the vividness of Mayan beliefs and folklore in one easy-to-digest read. As part of his wider series on Mesoamerican mythology, Matt Clayton establishes himself as one of the leading experts in the field, as one of the best artists for capturing readers’ imaginations on all the legacy left behind in the years since their disappearance.
Maya Gods And Monsters: Supernatural Stories From The Underworld And Beyond – Carol Karasik
Through fifteen short stories, Carol Karasik attempts to blend the natural with the supernatural and bring Mayan mythology to life in her book, Maya Gods And Monsters: Supernatural Stories From The Underworld And Beyond.
From the Lords of the Underworld, Water Lily Jaguar, to the White Bone Centipede, Karasik vividly takes readers to the heart of this lost civilisation and the collection of weird and quirky Gods that dominated their lives. These captivating stories now come with detailed illustrations from acclaimed artist Alfonso Huerta.
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Maya Gods Of War – Karen Bassie-Sweet
Thanks to groundbreaking recent archaeological discoveries, the importance of war in Mayan society has never been more understood.
Karen Bassie-Sweet presents a captivating new perspective in Maya Gods of War, shedding light on how Maya civilization integrated religion centred around conflict. The book delves into how worshippers paid homage to specific deities and tracks the growth and evolution of the pantheon alongside the advancement of civilization. For those seeking insight into the interwoven nature of religion and conflict, this ranks among the finest books on Mayan mythology.
Mesoamerican Mythology: Fascinating Myths And Legends Of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes And Monster From The Ancient Maya, Inca And Aztec Mythology – Simón López
Despite being a criminally underappreciated part of history, Mesoamerican societies such as the Maya, Inca and Aztecs have captivated people for hundreds of years.
In Mesoamerican Mythology, Simón López takes readers through some of the most enduring myths and folklore that dominated these three great civilisations during their heyday. López skillfully breathes life into the heroes, monsters, adventures, and romances that bound these powerful empires together, moving from the notion of a flat Earth being supported by four poles to the concept of Incan Emperors directly descending from the Sun God.
Maya Creation Myths: Words And Worlds Of The Chilam Balam – Timothy W. Knowlton
Timothy W. Knowlton’s Maya Creation Myths is still the ultimate resource for new and outstanding translations of the Books of Chilam Balam, the collection of texts that encompass Mayan myths on creation.
Through these translations, readers gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of how Mayans viewed the cycle of life and death in the cosmos, and how these beliefs continue to shape contemporary Mayan life even today. Explaining how Mayans have resisted pressure from European clergymen, Knowlton emphasises the vibrancy and diversity in the beliefs, making it one of the best Mayan mythology books for scholars, historians and students.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
