Author Description

The first edition of Mary Miller's Art of Mesoamerica quickly established its place as the essential guide to the art and architecture of ancient Central America, from Mexico to Honduras. For this second edition, the author has completely revised and rewritten the text to include a wealth of recent research, adding many new illustrations. The chapter on the enigmatic Olmecs - the putative "mother culture" of Mesoamerica - has been greatly expanded. The city of Teotihuacan is re-evaluated, exploring its influence on the ideologies and aesthetic styles of many subsequent cultures. The ongoing decipherment of Maya glyphs is shown to shed new light on the art of that great civilization. New discoveries from San Lorenzo, El Manati, Monte Alban, Tikal, and Copan - to name but a few - are all included here, making this the most up-to-date account for the art historian, student, and visitor alike.