DOC A Brotherhood of Memory: Jewish Landsmanshaften in the New World by Michael R. Weisser in History

Description

Warrior; rain-god; and spirit of the maize; Quetzalcoatl -- the most familiar of the Mesoamerican gods -- is better known for his attributes than for his complex history. Known to the Zapotecs; Olmecs; Toltecs; Mayans; Aztecs; and others; and at times the shared hero of warring peoples; Quetzalcoatl transcends both cultural and chronological barriers. His very name links the earth (coatl; or serpent) with the sky (quetzalli; or precious green feathers).In this comprehensive study; Enrique Florescano traces the spread of the worship of the Plumed Serpent; and the multiplicity of interpretations that surround the god; by comparing the Palenque inscriptions (ca. A.D. 690); the Vienna Codex (pre-Hispanic conquest); the Historia de los Mexicanos (1531); the Popul Vuh (ca. 1554); and numerous other texts. He also consults and reproduces archeological evidence from Mexico; Guatemala; El Salvador; and Nicaragua; demonstrating how the myth of Quetzalcoatl extends throughout Mesoamerica.Chapter topics include the diverse manifestations of Quetzalcoatl; the god as civilizing hero; interpretations of his role in creation stories and other myths; and a comparative study of Quetzalcoatl as one of the offspring of the Mother Goddess similar to divinities such as Dumuzi; Tammuz; Osiris; Adonis; and Persephone; from other classical cultures.