Bibliography
Teacher's Bibliography
Chiappari, C. L. (2002). Toward a Maya theology of liberation: The reformulation of a
"traditional" religion in the global context. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 41 (1), 47-67. An interesting account of modern Guatemalan practice of traditional religion and its persistence and variety among the modern Quiches.
Cohadas, M. (1975). The symbolism and ritual function of the middle classic ball game
in Mesoamerica. American Indian Quarterly 2 (2), 99-130. A somewhat dense but interesting explanation of what significance the ball courts and ball playing had for the ancient Quiche.
Danien, E.C. & Sharer, R.J., (Eds.) (1992). New theories on the ancient Maya.
Philadelphia: University Museum of the University of Pennsylvania.
Fields, V. & Rents-Budet, D. (2005). Lords of creation: The origins of sacred Maya
kingship. London: Scala Publishers in association with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Especially good resource for illustrations and imagery.
Goetz, D. & Morley, S.G. (1950). Popol vuh: The sacred book of the ancient quiche
maya. Translated by Adrian Recinos. Norman, OK: Unversity of Oklahoma Press. An alternate translation of the text of the Popol Vuh, a little less readable than the Tedlock book, but extensive history of and commentary on the text.
Larson, L. (2001). Mayans, Aztecs and Incans: A thematic unit. Teacher Created
Materials. An elementary school level teacher resource for possible adaptation.
Mann, C. C. (2006). 1491: New revelations of the Americas before Columbus. New
York: Knopf. A sweeping history of the new world before the arrival of the
Spanish. Interesting theories-in-development about the nature of native people in South, Central and North America. Large section on the Maya.
Mayan Script. Mayan hieroglyphic script and languages. From Omniglot writing systems
& languages of the world. http://www.omniglot.com/writing/mayan/htm. A syllabary, numerals and phonetic guide to pronunciation. Only for the linguistically brave!
McKillop, H. (2004). The ancient Maya: New perspectives. New York: W.W. Norton. A
social, political and historical account of the Maya people.
Miller, M.E. & Martin, S. (2004). Courtly art of the ancient Maya. London: Thames and
Hudson. Especially good resource for illustrations and imagery.
Miller, M. & Taube, K. (1993). The gods and symbols of ancient Mexico and the Maya:
An illustrated dictionary of Mesoamerican religion. London: Thames and Hudson. A thorough dictionary of Mesoamerican icons, figures, cultures and histories. Many photographs and illustrations of key ancient Maya deities, artifacts, and customs.
Parsons, M.C. & Cook, G. (2004). Cosmogones and culture: Teaching Genesis and the
Popol Vuh in an interdisciplinary course at a Christian university. Christian Higher Education 3, 185-205. An account of a college course which compared the Book of Genesis to the account of creation in the Popol Vuh.
Polio, N. (1999). Popol Vuh. A Curriculum Unit at the Yale-New Haven Teachers
Institute. A curriculum unit developed by a New Haven teacher in seminar, which offers a scripted version of the Popol Vuh. A good resource for students wishing to perform a scene or two.
Popol Vuh: The creation of the Maya. (1989). Videotape. (60 minutes). Directed by
Patricia Amlin. Berkley, CA: University of California Extension, Center for
Media and Independent Learning. An animated version of the myth utilizing
images from actual artifacts of the Maya. Entertaining partial retelling, especially the ballgame.
Schele, L. & Miller, M. (1986). The blood of kings: Dynasty and ritual in Mayan art. Fort
Worth, TX: Kimbell Art Museum. Especially good resource for illustrations and imagery.
Schele, L. & Freidel, D. (1990). A forest of kings: The untold story of the ancient Maya.
New York: William Morrow. A pivotal history of regal ancient Maya, based on modern translations of glyphs.
"The Sport of Life and Death: The Mesoamerican Ballgame." An Educational Website.
http://www.ballgame.org/. An interactive educational website, where the visitor
can learn basic facts about the Maya, and play a mock ballgame.
Taube, K. (1993). Aztec and Maya myths. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press. As title
suggests, Maya myths, maps and illustrations. Good for student research and teacher background.
Teacher's site for Native Education. http://www.nativeweb.org/. Searchable website
linking the visitor to many educational, travel, and current events about native peoples all across the Americas. Thirty-four links to sites for and about the Maya.
Tedlock, D. (1996). Popol Vuh: The definitive edition of the Mayan book of the dawn of
life and the glories of gods and kings. New York:Touchstone. A recent translation of the myths, with a detailed introduction that explains the story and gives the manuscript history.
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaelogy. http://www.museum.upenn.edu/.
Good site for viewing Penn's holdings of pre-Columbian art. Downloadable images.
Whittington, E. M. (Ed.) (2001). The sport of life and death: The Mesoamerican
ballgame. New York: Thames & Hudson. A collection of essays on various aspects of the ballgame, including symbolism and theology. Many illustrations and photos from the museum exhibit that accompanied it.
Student's Bibliography and Resources for Research
American Indian Resource Directory. http://www.indians.org/Resource/natlit/natlit.html.
A commercial website with many links to native American tales.
Ancient Mexico.com: The art, culture, and history of ancient Mesoamerica.
http://www.ancientmexico.com/index.html. An interesting, colorful site with links to the Maya pantheon of gods; also maps and histories.
Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies. http://www.famsi.org/. A
searchable website on all things, people, and places throughout Mesoamerica, including Maya culture. Actual digital codexes available.
Lattimore, D.N. (1996). Why there is no arguing in heaven: A Mayan myth. New York:
Harpercollins. An elementary school interpretation of parts of the creation myths. Useful for struggling readers.
"Magic Tails." http://www.magictails.com/creationlinks.html. A website with creation
myths from around the world.
Map of Mayan ruins http://mayaruins.com/yucmap.html. Point and click on various
archaeological sites in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, etc. Background information and bibliography on sites.
Montejo, V. & Garay, L. (1999). Popol vuh: A sacred book of the Maya. Toronto:
Groundwood/Douglas and McIntyre. Another brief history of the transliteration of the text, with original illustrations. Another resource for struggling readers.
"The Sport of Life and Death: The Mesoamerican Ballgame." An Educational Website.
http://www.ballgame.org/. An interactive educational website, where the visitor
can learn basic facts about the Maya, and play a mock ballgame.
Tedlock, D. (1996). Popol Vuh: The definitive edition of the Mayan book of the dawn of
life and the glories of gods and kings. New York:Touchstone. A recent translation
of the myths, with a detailed introduction that explains the story and gives the manuscript history.
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaelogy. http://www.museum.upenn.edu/.
Good site for viewing Penn's holdings of pre-Columbian art. Downloadable images.
"Welcome to Jaguar Sun! The Maya in Time". http://www.jaguar-sun.com/default.htm.
A site maintained by author Jeeni Criscenzo, offering information on the Maya past and present.
"Welcome to Maya Paradise: The Río Dulce." Guatemala Information Web Site.
http://www.mayaparadise.com/index.htm. A travel-oriented site about modern Guatemala, with some interesting geographic and map resources for student researchers.
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