Chilam Balam of Ixil: Facsimile and Study of an Unpublished Maya Book
Book Description
This remarkable scholarly work unveils a hidden treasure of Maya wisdom through the first complete translation of an unpublished Yucatec Maya manuscript. Laura Caso Barrera presents both a detailed facsimile and comprehensive study of a colonial-era document that reveals the extraordinary intellectual sophistication of Maya scribes who encountered European knowledge systems.
The manuscript demonstrates how Maya scholars skillfully absorbed and reinterpreted diverse European sources, including biblical texts, classical literature like the Poem of the Mío Cid, and treatises on astronomy, astrology, calendrical systems, and medical practices. Rather than simply copying foreign concepts, these indigenous intellectuals displayed remarkable discernment in adapting this knowledge to their own cultural framework and understanding.
This 395-page volume offers readers a unique window into the Maya worldview and historical perspective during the colonial period. The text illuminates how ancient wisdom traditions evolved through cross-cultural exchange, showing the dynamic nature of spiritual and intellectual development across civilizations.
For those drawn to indigenous wisdom traditions, this work provides authentic insights into Maya approaches to healing, astronomical observation, and spiritual understanding. Researchers and enthusiasts of Maya culture will discover fresh perspectives on how traditional knowledge systems adapted and thrived even under colonial influence. The book serves as both an academic resource and a bridge connecting contemporary readers with the enduring intellectual legacy of Maya civilization.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~11 hours)
📄 Length: 395 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Facsimiles
- ✓ Explore Christian literature
- ✓ Explore Mayas
- ✓ Explore Vegetable Materia medica
- ✓ Explore Texts
- ✓ Explore Spanish Christian literature
- ✓ Explore Translations into Maya
- ✓ Explore Chilam Balam de Ixil (Manuscript)
