{"product_id":"birds-and-beasts-of-ancient-susan-milbrath-9781646427710","title":"Birds and Beasts of Ancient Mesoamerica: Animal Symbolism in the Postclassic Period","description":"\u003ci\u003eBirds and Beasts of Ancient Mesoamerica\u003c\/i\u003e links Precolumbian animal imagery with scientific data related to animal morphology and behavior, providing in-depth studies of the symbolic importance of animals and birds in Postclassic period Mesoamerica. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Representations of animal deities in Mesoamerica can be traced back at least to Middle Preclassic Olmec murals, stone carvings, and portable art such as lapidary work and ceramics. Throughout the history of Mesoamerica real animals were merged with fantastical creatures, creating zoological oddities not unlike medieval European bestiaries. According to Spanish chroniclers, the Aztec emperor was known to keep exotic animals in royal aviaries and zoos. The Postclassic period was characterized by an iconography that was shared from central Mexico to the Yucatan peninsula and south to Belize. In addition to highlighting the symbolic importance of nonhuman creatures in general, this volume focuses on the importance of the calendrical and astronomical symbolism associated with animals and birds. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Inspired by and dedicated to the work of Mesoamerican scholar Cecelia Klein and featuring imagery from painted books, monumental sculpture, portable arts, and archaeological evidence from the field of zooarchaeology, \u003ci\u003eBirds and Beasts of Ancient Mesoamerica\u003c\/i\u003e highlights the significance of the animal world in Postclassic and early colonial Mesoamerica. It will be important to students and scholars studying Mesoamerican art history, archaeology, ethnohistory, and zoology. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Susan Milbrath\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1646427718\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781646427710\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University Press of Colorado\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 08\/15\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 440\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.74lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 1.20d","brand":"Susan Milbrath","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48175450489087,"sku":"9781646427710","price":56.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_5600bca9-dd1b-4c8b-9ddb-682fb1224a94.jpg?v=1771333813","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/birds-and-beasts-of-ancient-susan-milbrath-9781646427710","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}