http://SaturnianCosmology.Org/ mirrored file For complete access to all the files of this collection see http://SaturnianCosmology.org/search.php ========================================================== *Ancient American Civilizations* *Mesoamerica* *© 1998 by John W. Hoopes * Edward King, Lord Kingsborough Firstborn heir of an Irish earl Born in 1795 Rich student at Oxford University Disillusioned with politics as a result of American victories Elected to House of Commons after graduation Did not seek re-election Enchanted by Mexican codices Fascinated by Bodley Codex in Oxford library Became convinced ancient Mexicans decended from "Lost Tribes of Israel" Devoted his time and wealth to publishing Produced /Antiquities of Mexico/ (9 vols.) from 1831-1848 Exhausted personal fortune Bad debts with paper manufacturers Imprisonments caused scandal in London society Died in prison in 1837 at the age of 42 Would have inherited father's title the following year Publications are of variable quality Research was far from impartial Materials were poorly organized Contributions Brought many rare works to the attentions of scholars Provided copies of fragile documents Published material by early scholars like Brasseur Work has a high level of scholarly dignity Charles Etienne Brasseur de Bourbourg French priest Born in 1814 Wrote romances and moral tales at the age of 21 Initial interest in Americas sparked by fantastic stories Took holy orders and came to North America in 1845 Taught history at Catholic seminary in Quebec Representative of church at papal court in Rome More interested in archaeology than priesthood Read accounts by del Río of Palenque Facinated by Prescott's accounts of Conquest of Mexico Studied rare manuscripts in Vatican library Returned to America in 1848 Discovered and translated important lost documents Ximenez translation of /Popol Vuh/ /Annals of the Cakchiquels/ Landa's /Relacion de las Cosas de Yucatán/ /Rabinal Achi/ and /Troano Codex/ Translated important documents Beliefs and theories Became convinced native writings were allegorical Turned to spiritualism Decided that Atlantis explained Egypt-Mexico similarities Believed Atlantean race responsible for ancient civilization Publications /Quatre Lettres/ turned admirers against him Ruined reputation for high scholarship Jean Frederic, Count of Waldeck Background hazy Born in 1766 in Paris, Prague, or Vienna Claimed descent from Prussian nobility Early career Active in French revolution, soldier under Napoleon Travelled to Egypt with French savants Studied art with Audubon's teacher Publications First book, on Africa, published in 1780 (Suppressed for nude pictures of Hottentot women) Visited Yucatán in 1822 and Palenque in 1832 Published first book on Mexico in 1838 (at age of 72) /Voyage pittoresque et archeologique/... /Monuments Anciens du Mexique/ in 1866 (at age of 100) Included interpretations and descriptions by Bourbourg Evaluation of work Perspective influenced by classical training and Egypt Illustrations fueled an intense interest in the region Seen by many as a confirmation of the Atlantis legend Breathtakingly beautiful, but not especially accurate Died in 1875 at the age of 109 Reportedly had heart attack while admiring a young lady on the Champs Elysées Stephens and Catherwood John Lloyd Stephens Born in New Jersey, 1805. Grew up in New York City. Entered Columbia University at the age of 13 Graduated in 1882 at the age of 17 Finished law degree in 14 months. Practiced on Wall St. Advised to travel abroad for health reasons in 1834 Visited Europe, Egypt, and Palestine Made thousands of dollars with travel books Arranged to go to Central America with Catherwood in 1839 Frederick Catherwood Not much known about him Trained as an architect and travelled widely Exhibited "panoramas" of Near East in New York Agreed to accompany Stephens as professional illustrator Adept with various media, including "camera lucida" Journeys to Central America Eight months between 1839 and 1840 on first trip Visited Copan, Palenque, Chichén Itzá and other sites /Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatán/ (2 vols., 1841) Sold 12,000 copies in 4 months, with 78 illustrations Second trip to Yucatán in fall of 1841 Visited Uxmal, Chichén Itzá, and other sites /Incidents of Travel in Yucatán/ (2 vols. 1843), with 127 illustrations Contributions Straightforward, accurate descriptions in popular format Careful and precise drawings of ruins Believed ruins had been built by ancestors of modern Indians Augustus & Alice Le Plongeon Augustus Le Plongeon Born 1826 to French parents on Isle of Jersey Graduated from Ecole Polytechnique in Paris Took off sailing at age of 19, shipwrecked in Chile Worked as surveyor in San Francisco during Gold Rush Learned photography in England in 1851 Became medical doctor (through apprenticeship) Opened photo studio in Peru in 1862 Married Alice Dixon in 1873 Journeys to Mexico Honeymoon in Yucatán in 1873 Learned to speak some Yucatec Maya Returned to Chichén Itzá in 1874 and 1875 Made 500 stereo photos and models of sculpture Excavated and found Chacmool Returned to Uxmal in 1881 Lived in Governor's Palace and photographed ruins Final fieldwork in 1883 Returned to Chichén Itzá to confirm Atlantis theories Publications /Sacred Mysteries Among the Mayas and Quiches, 11,500 Years Ago/ (1886) /Queen Moo and the Egyptian Sphinx/ (1896) /The Origin of the Egyptians /(1913-1914) Alice (a Theosophist) - /A Dream of Atlantis /(1909-1911) Contributions Photography was most valuable contribution First excavations at Chichén Itza revealed new sculpture Total crackpot in his theories and interpretations Perpetuated fantasies about the ancient Maya that last until today in some circles Claude Joseph Désiré Charnay Background Frenchman, explorer, writer, and photographer Worked under sponsorship of founder of Lorillard Tobacco Became expert in photography soon after its invention Made four journeys to Mexico and Maya area 1857 - Visited Mitla, Palenque, Izamal, Chichén, and Uxmal 1880-81 - Mitla, Monte Albán, Palenque, Yaxchilán, Izamal Famous encounter with Maudslay at Yaxchilán ("Lorillard City") 1882-83 and 1886 - Yucatán Peninsula Publications /The Ancient Cities of the New World/ (1887) Contributions With Le Plongeon, was among the first to publish photographs of Mesoamerican sites Made early plaster molds of Maya sculptures Speculated on Indian origins of ruins Alfred Percival Maudslay Background Born 1850, died 1931 Son of "one of England's finest craftsmen" Educated at Cambridge University, graduating in 1872 Fond of travel and able to do so because of family wealth Sailed to West Indies, visited Panama & Guatemala Decided to settle in Jamaica as a gentleman tobacco planter Wound up as personal secretary to governor of Trinidad Served on diplomatic staff in Fiji Islands in 1875 Returned to London in 1879 Between ages of 31 and 44, devoted life to study of Maya ruins Continued writing, editing, and publishing until 1902 Made several journeys to the Maya area 1880-81 - Palenque, Copán, Quiriguá 1882 - Tikal, Quiriguá 1883 - Quiriguá 1885 - Copán 1887 - discovered Ixkún 1893 - assumed directorship of Harvard's project at Copán Contributions /Biologia Centrali Americana /(4 vols., 1889-1902) Inaugurated modern era of scientific exploration Set a new standard for fieldwork and publication Detailed maps and building plans, excellent photos Preserved sculptures and artifacts for British Museum Made casts for reproduction of monuments First serious contribution to Maya epigraphy Called attention to worthlessness of Waldeck, Le Plongeon, and others' fantastic theories