1 option
As the gods kill : morality and social violence among the precolonial Maya / Andrew K. Scherer.
Penn Museum Library F1435.3.R56 S34 2025
By Request
- Format:
- Book
- Author/Creator:
- Scherer, Andrew K., Author.
- Series:
- Linda Schele series in Maya and pre-Columbian studies
- The Linda Schele Series in Maya and Pre-Columbian Studies
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Mayas--Rites and ceremonies.
- Mayas.
- Mayas--Warfare.
- Violence--Moral and ethical aspects--Central America.
- Violence.
- Ritual murder--Central America.
- Ritual murder.
- Human sacrifice--Central America.
- Human sacrifice.
- Maya gods.
- Mayas--Antiquities.
- Physical Description:
- xiv, 264 pages : illustrations ; 29 cm
- Edition:
- First edition.
- Other Title:
- Morality and social violence among the precolonial Maya
- Place of Publication:
- Austin : University of Texas Press, [2025]
- Summary:
- "This is a survey of the evidence for violence--especially that of war and sacrifice--among the precolonial Maya. Scherer wants to situate violence within its social context, focusing especially on the moral frameworks in which the injury and killing were conducted. He is asking questions like, why did the Maya see some modes of violence as necessary, particularly when it involved a relationship (to other Maya, to their ancestors, or the gods)? How do Maya concepts of justice, vengeance, payment, and costumbre (ritual) inform so-called "moral" violence? In the latter portion of the book (chapter four, especially), Scherer situates his analysis within broader social scientific studies, particularly as it pertains to the question of whether humans are inclined to intentional violence. To explore these questions, Scherer, who was trained as a bioarchaeologist, expands his methodology to review the material evidence for weapons, armor, and fortifications (as well as bones), and iconography, epigraphy, and ethnography, to produces a work of ethnohistory that draws from art history as well as archaeology"-- Provided by publisher.
- Contents:
- How the Maya killed
- Morality
- Sociality of killing
- Ontology of killers
- By tooth and hand
- Justice, punishment, and vengeance
- Departing thoughts.
- Notes:
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 235-259) and index.
- Other Format:
- Online version Scherer, Andrew K. As the gods kill
- ISBN:
- 9781477331941
- 1477331948
- OCLC:
- 1504236991
- Publisher Number:
- 90104370704
The Penn Libraries is committed to describing library materials using current, accurate, and responsible language. If you discover outdated or inaccurate language, please fill out this feedback form to report it and suggest alternative language.