The Maya are not only the creators of one of the ancient world's great civilizations, but unlike the Sumerians, they are also our contemporaries, a resilient indigenous people who, after surviving the depredations of colonialism, economic exploitation, and political repression, continue to sustain their vital cultural traditions in a modern, globalizing economy. Beginning with a look at how the Maya have been represented in the modern European and North American imagination, we will then move to the archaeological record, looking briefly at their Olmec predecessors and then turning to some of the most renowned Classic Maya sites, such as Copan, Tikal, Palenque, Uxmal, and Chichén Itzá. Guided by the Maya book of origins, the Popol Vuh, we will explore the riches of Maya iconography as carved in stone and painted on walls and vases. We conclude with a look at contemporary Maya culture as reflected in oral traditions and storytelling, textile weaving, religious traditionalism, and contemporary Maya literary expression.
910.791.01 Homewood campus
Monday, April 17 to May 8, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Cost: $99 (four sessions)
JHU full-time faculty/staff are eligible for 80% tuition remission. You will be unable to register online and receive the discount. Contact 410-516-8516 for more details.
