Religions of Mesoamerica: Cosmovision and Ceremonial Centers Book

This book by David Carrasco is an interesting analysis of the cosmo-magical world of Mesoamerican cultures, searching for the origins of the Mesoamerican divine and cosmological world, the philosophy of the peoples of the area and its influence in their society, culture and political views.

For anyone interested in the understanding of human sacrifices, the philosophical and mental understanding and application of these practices, this book might be a good reference book, which explains the reasons for these odd practices, at least for contemporary western societies. Once we get to understand why the Mayas, Aztecs or other local cultures practiced blood letting activities, or why human blood and hearts were so important for the continuance of life on earth, we are able to comprehend a bit more these peoples minds.

Of especial interest are of course their achievements in architecture, literature, sculpture, the understanding of the universe, the cycles and movements of the moon, the sun or Venus, just to give but few examples, and their calendrical achievements, which matched contemporary and scientific observations, posing great admiration towards one of the first seven ancient civilisations around the world that achieved urbanisation. Just to give an example we find Teotihuacan, a city that around the year 200 AD had a population that reached 200.000 citizens, at the level of Ancient Rome. The planing and architectural achievements of this town can be observed when you visit it. It is extraordinary the alignment of the city with the stars and the understanding that this society had of the cycles of the Pleiades, the Sun yearly cycle, or the moon yearly cycle, connecting them to agriculture and to their divine world. As many other ancient urban societies, their towns' planning and structure were based on their mythological and divine world, which was at the same time their interpretation of the cosmos above them. The city was basically a recreation of the cosmos, a microcosmos which was a copy of the macrocosmos above them, and the stars and other phenomenons happening were interpreted as divinities which had control over the destiny of their communities.

If you wish to listen about this book, or to read about other articles related to Mesoamerican or other mythological and anthropological studies, visit my website on panacas.com.