Skywatchers of ancient Mexico (The Texas Pan American series)

by Anthony F. Aveni

Book Overview

Skywatchers of Ancient Mexico helped establish the field of archaeoastronomy, and it remains the standard introduction to this subject. Combining basic astronomy with archaeological and ethnological... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0292775571
• Release Date: January 1980
• Publisher: University of Texas Press
• Length: 369 Pages
• Weight: 2.54 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Skywatchers of Ancient Mexico

Great book for Astronomy history buffs. The Mayans were some of the great astronomers of the past and this book details the methods and briefs. While the book leans to the textbook side, thus the 4 rating rather than a 5 star, it is very readable. I liked the decoding of the Mayan Gliffs. The book shows numerous gliffs and provides written intreputations. A Mayan astronomer, for example, is shown sitting with his eye reaching out and grasping a star. The book also details the Mayan calendar and how they determined rather precisely the orbital period of Venus and other heavenly bodies.The book is great for anyone wanting a better understanding of anicent astronomical methods and a further understanding of the Mayan people.