Maya Art and Architecture

World of Art

by Mary Ellen Miller

Mary Miller vividly takes the reader into the art of one of the world's most enigmatic ancient civilizations. From temple to tomb, she explains how and why the Maya made their greatest works. New archaeological discoveries at Copan, Tikal, and Palenque--to name but a few--are included, and the author draws on recent decipherments in Maya writing to provide fresh interpretations of Maya sculpture and ceramics. For the art historian, student, and traveler, Maya Art and Architecture will prove indispensable. Chapters on Maya architecture and the materials of Maya art set the stage for discussions of the sculpture of different time periods and regions, the famous murals at Bonampak, the dramatic new findings at Cacaxtla, and the painted Maya ceramics of the first millennium a.d. The author has organized the material in new ways, considering the nature of the human form in Maya art, for example, and the role of the hand-held object.

Genres: Art, Art History, Nonfiction, History, Architecture, Reference, Anthropology

240 pages, Paperback

Published November 17, 1999

About the author

Mary Ellen Miller is an American art historian and academician specializing in Mesoamerica and the Maya.

Reviews

[Pasi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read if you want to learn about the Mayan people.

[Caomhghain · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent and fairly thorough introduction to this topic. The presentation and elucidation are very clear and my only problem is that in my edition some of the illustrations were rather muddy.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well illustrated run through the topic. Excellent to accompany a trip to Mexico

[Martha · Rating 2 out of 5]

like a coffee table book that has been reduced by half; font too small to make reading enjoyable

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the second edition of this book, with Mary Ellen Miller and Megan E. O'Neil as co-authors, published in 2014. I couldn't find it on Goodreads, so I'm putting my comments here. Mayan research has advanced so much in recent years that if you want to learn about it, you should get the more recent version.

I've long been fascinated by the mysterious Mayans and this book includes lots of cultural and historical information along with many great pictures. The relatively small size would make it good for taking along on a vacation that included a trip to Mayan ruins.

The Mayans built incredible palaces and monuments, then abandoned them, leaving behind ceramics, paintings, jewelry and more. The collapse of these cities is likely related to depletion of resources with an environment unable to support the population. There also were lots of wars among competing groups.

Many descendants of the ancient Mayans live in Central America today,

[Christøpher Es · Rating 4 out of 5]

Required reading for this south american art class I took.

Proffessor Shearady kept talking about the "non" apocalypse everyday.

I decided not to show up for the last month of class.

idk, I read something in the syllabus wrong. Thinking we didn't have class for the last month. or something stupid.

He is a good teacher.

But probably for the best he retired.

Even though..

He still..

Somehow..

Teaches classes there.


"History of Illustration"

Never mentions a Marvel or DC Comic book..