Los Mayas. Señores de la creación: Los orígenes del la realeza sagrada. (Lords of Creation: The Origins of the Sacred Maya Kingship)
Reviewed by Laura Torres, Arlington, MA -- Críticas, 7/15/2008
Fields, Virginia M.
Spain: Nerea, dist. by IPG. 2005. 288p. photogs. ISBN 84-96431-11-8. $60. ART HISTORY
NEW TO THE U.S. MARKET
Many ancient cultures have typically interpreted their royalty as divine, the sons and daughters of celestial deities ruling on earth. The product of a 2005 exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum, this book outlines the artistic output inspired by the divine kingship of the Maya in southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and western Honduras. Royal divinity was first exhibited in the artwork of the Olmecs, a highly-developed pre-Columbian society that preceeded Mesoamerican civilizations. The first half of the text features lavishly illustrated essays on the deep religious ties the Maya had with their royalty and how they were manifested in ritual, artwork, and architecture. The second half of the text catalogs all the objects featured at the exhibit. Each item is represented by a full-color photograph and description of its cultural significance and provenance. Overall, this book is a unique look into Mayan culture, and the artifacts depicted have been intelligently curated; recommended for large public and school library collections.
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