Mayan mythology

This title in the Mythology and Culture Worldwide series introduces the major characters and stories of Mayan mythology while placing them within a social, religious, and historical context, predominantly during the classical period of Mayan history (250 to 900 CE). While the focus of the book is on showing how the myths reflect the worldview and values of the Mayan civilization, the author has made an effort to prove they also reflect themes found in other religions and mythologies. The book's tone is scholarly and more suited to reports than the casual fan of myths and legends, particularly since the myths included are paraphrased rather than presented in full. Currie provides detailed notes for each chapter and an extensive list of further reading, weighted in favor of text sources over websites. Full-color photographs, explanatory sidebars, and a discussion of Mayan references in modern culture and literature contribute to the solid introduction.--Dean, Kara Copyright 2010 Booklist