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5 - Creation and the Gods

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2023

Alexus McLeod
Alexus McLeod
Affiliation:
Indiana University
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Summary

The nature of the cosmos and its maintenance are central issues in Mesoamerican philosophy. The correlative metaphysical systems of Mesoamerica, with their focus on interdependence, transformation, and continual creation, rely on particular views about the nature of the world and its operation that are covered in this chapter. The chapter covers the development of key concepts connected to creation and change, as well as the particular ways these are developed in creation stories across Mesoamerica. Creation stories serve an important purpose in Mesoamerican thought. They should not be thought of as only myth grounding the overall tradition and system, but also as discussions of the nature of being, change, and continual creation.

Keywords

creationgodsoriginsPopol VuhFlorentine Codexsacrifice and rebirthdestructionritual
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Chapter
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An Introduction to Mesoamerican Philosophy , pp. 139 - 165
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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  • Creation and the Gods
  • Alexus McLeod, Indiana University
  • Book: An Introduction to Mesoamerican Philosophy
  • Online publication: 28 July 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009218726.006
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  • Creation and the Gods
  • Alexus McLeod, Indiana University
  • Book: An Introduction to Mesoamerican Philosophy
  • Online publication: 28 July 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009218726.006
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Creation and the Gods
  • Alexus McLeod, Indiana University
  • Book: An Introduction to Mesoamerican Philosophy
  • Online publication: 28 July 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009218726.006
Available formats
×