"This book presents the very latest interpretation of several of the most important sections of the Maya codices by two of the foremost experts on the subject. It is a major step forward in codical research, pushing the boundaries of traditional categories and delving into the apparently very rich mythic content of these manuscripts, which are essentially divinatory in nature . an essential reference work not only for codical researchers but for all Mesoamericanists." --Matthew Looper, California State University, Chico "One should, perhaps, say a word about the importance of this work for sixteenth-century scholars. Anyone with a post-colonialist bent needs to become familiar with the mythology behind pre-Hispanic Maya- and Mexican- cultures, if only to understand the process of religious syncretism that took place once Christianity took over. In a series of appendices, Vail and Hernandez provide and thorough beginners introduction to the mythological dramatis personae and weave the information together in such a way as to make the highly complex codices less of a mystery.this attempt at a thematically based overview of the codices will long serve as the touchstone for future arguments." --James Ogier, Sixteenth Century Journal "Gabrielle Vail and Christine Hernandez have contributed an important study about the Mayan codices and the related historiography.

This book is highly recommended to researchers, students, and readers interested in Mayan cultures and associated codices." -- Colonial Latin American Historical Review.