What question did this study set out to answer?

This article aims to explore how the nineteenth-century epistemological turn changed interpretations of ancient writings and monuments in New World civilizations.

April 15, 2026Open Access

Making Mayan Myths: Fragments of New World Civilizations and the Epistemological Turn by José Luis Escalona Victoria, Ciudad de México

Key Points

This article aims to explore how the nineteenth-century epistemological turn changed interpretations of ancient writings and monuments in New World civilizations.
Analyzing historical texts and archives in Europe and America
Examining the relationship between language and mythology
Investigating archaeological findings of ruined monuments in Mexico and Central America
Identified shifts in the interpretation of ancient writings
Noted changes in perceptions of mythology related to ancient civilizations
Highlighted the impact of the epistemological turn on scientific fields and cultural understanding

Abstract

The nineteenth century interest in the exotic spread along new scientific fields, as an epistemological turn, a radical change in people’s interpretation of the spatiotemporal order of things. This article outlines some changes in perceptions of ancient writings preserved in archives in Europe and America, the spoken languages and the ruined monuments buried under the jungle in Mexico and Central America, under the early interpretations focused on mythology.

Connected Papers

Building similarity graph...

Analyzing shared references across papers

Discussion

Authors

José Luis Escalona Victoria

Journals

IBERO-AMERICANA PRAGENSIA

Actions

References and Citations

Connected Papers

Building similarity graph...

Analyzing shared references across papers

Discussion

Cite this study

José Luis Escalona Victoria (Mon,) studied this question.

www.synapsesocial.com/papers/69df2c2fe4eeef8a2a6b13fd — DOI: https://doi.org/10.14712/24647063.2025.15

Also consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

Karl Sapper, Walter Lehmann, and Franz Termer and the Study of Central America· 2000 · 1 citations
Primitive Culture· 2010 · 56 citations
The Golden Bough· 2012 · 7 citations
From Idols to Antiquity· 2017 · 44 citations
Alfred Marsten Tozzer 1877-1954· 1955 · 2 citations

Making Mayan Myths: Fragments of New World Civilizations and the Epistemological Turn by José Luis Escalona Victoria, Ciudad de México

Key Points

Abstract

Citation Network

Connected Papers

Discussion

Authors

Journals

Actions

References and Citations

Citation Network

Connected Papers

Discussion

Cite this study

Also consider