Fundamental Principles
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Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican archaeology

The Fundamental Principles of Old and New World Civilizations

Zelia Nuttall1901
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Nuttall presents a pioneering theory that the 'fundamental principle' of ancient civilizations was the veneration of the Pole Star and the rotation of the heavens (specifically Ursa Major and Ursa Minor). She identifies the swastika as a universal symbol representing this celestial rotation and argues that this shared symbolism proves a common cultural link between the Old World (Egypt, Asia) and the New World (Aztec, Maya).

Also known asThe Fundamental Principles of Old and New World Civilizations: A Comparative Research Based on a Study of the Ancient Mexican Religious, Sociological and Calendrical Systems
This edition1901
EditionPeabody Museum, Cambridge, Mass.
Creation MythsMythologyMesoamerican mythologyMythological systemsClassical heroesComparative Mythologyritual documentationritual sacrifice

Contents28 chapters

  1. 01Contents
  2. 02Editorial Note.
  3. 03Author's Preface.
  4. 04The Fundamental Principles Of Old And New World Civilizations.
  5. 05Appendix I. Comparative Table of some Quechua, Nahuatl and Maya Words.
  6. 06Appendix II. A Prayer-meeting of the Star-worshippers.
  7. 07Appendix III. Comparative Lists of Words.
  8. 08Index.
  9. 09Note.
  10. 10Footnotes
  11. 11THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
  12. 12"Cover"
  13. 13The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Fundamental Principles of Old and New World Civilizations
  14. 14The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fundamental Principles of Old and New World Civilizations by Zelia Nuttall
  15. 15The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fundamental Principles of Old and New World Civilizations by Zelia Nuttall
  16. 16The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fundamental Principles of Old and New World Civilizations by Zelia Nuttall
  17. 17The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fundamental Principles of Old and New World Civilizations by Zelia Nuttall
  18. 18The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fundamental Principles of Old and New World Civilizations by Zelia Nuttall
  19. 19The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fundamental Principles of Old and New World Civilizations by Zelia Nuttall
  20. 20The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fundamental Principles of Old and New World Civilizations by Zelia Nuttall
  21. 21The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fundamental Principles of Old and New World Civilizations by Zelia Nuttall
  22. 22The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fundamental Principles of Old and New World Civilizations by Zelia Nuttall
  23. 23The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fundamental Principles of Old and New World Civilizations by Zelia Nuttall
  24. 24The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fundamental Principles of Old and New World Civilizations by Zelia Nuttall
  25. 25The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fundamental Principles of Old and New World Civilizations by Zelia Nuttall
  26. 26The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fundamental Principles of Old and New World Civilizations by Zelia Nuttall
  27. 27The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fundamental Principles of Old and New World Civilizations by Zelia Nuttall
  28. 28The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fundamental Principles of Old and New World Civilizations by Zelia Nuttall

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