Mexico and Peru

The ancient cultures of Mexico and Peru are renowned for their imposing architecture and the cruelty of their religious practices. Lewis well-known, but equally intriguing, are the myths on which their beliefs were based, the tales of the feathered god Quetzalcoatl and his enemy Tecatlipoca, Lord of the Night winds, and of Pachacamac, Peruvian spirit of the Earth. This detailed exploration looks at the Toltec and Aztec peoples of central Mexico, the Mayans of the Yucatan and the Incas of Peru. The eminent anthropologist and mythologist Lewis Spence describes their social organization and intellectual achievements as well as their major myths. With over sixty black-and-white illustrations this book presents a fascinating introduction to the civilizations that flourished in South and Central America before the arrival of the European conquerors.