Background
Benson, Elizabeth Polk was born on May 13, 1924 in Washington, District of Columbia, United States. Daughter of Theodore Booton and Rebecca Dean (Albin) Benson.
(Elizabeth P. Benson provides an engaging overview of the ...)
Elizabeth P. Benson provides an engaging overview of the depiction of animals in the pre-Columbian art of Latin America. Drawing on an extensive set of images (many of them previously unpublished) from the collections of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, and the Florida Museum of Natural History, she examines the practical, ritualistic, and mythic importance of animals in pre-Columbian life as well as the meanings that animals still have for the modern descendants of those indigenous peoples. Conveniently arranged by animal groups and beautifully illustrated, Benson's survey encompasses all artistic media and spans the pre-Columbian cultures of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Providing information on animals and the beliefs surrounding them, the cultural contexts of their depiction, and the cultures to which they were important, Birds and Beasts of Ancient Latin America will appeal to archaeologists, cultural hisorians, and anthropologists; to anyone interested in pre-Columbian art and mythology; and to modern-day bird and animal lovers.
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Benson, Elizabeth Polk was born on May 13, 1924 in Washington, District of Columbia, United States. Daughter of Theodore Booton and Rebecca Dean (Albin) Benson.
Bachelor, Wellesley College, 1945. Master of Arts, Catholic University America, 1956.
Museum aide, curator National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1946-1960. Curator Pre-Columbian Collection Dumbarton Oaks, 1962-1979, director Center for Pre-Columbian Studies, 1971-1979. Research associate Institute Andean Studies, Berkeley, California, since 1980.
Lecturer Catholic University American, Washington, 1968—1969. Adjunct professor Columbia University, New York City, 1973. Senior lecturer University Texas, Austin, 1985.
Andrew S. Keck distinguished visiting professor American University, Washington, 1987. Consultant Montreal Museum Fine Arts, 1980—1984, 1990—1992. Member advisory board Latin America Indian Lits.
Journal, Pittsburgh, since 1989. Co-curator traveling exhibition Birds and Beasts of Ancient Latin America, 1995—1998. Member executive committee Peruvian American Research Foundation, since 2004.
Member advisory board Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoam. Studies, 1994—2000.
(Text, illustrations, and maps survey the history, art, an...)
(Elizabeth P. Benson provides an engaging overview of the ...)
Member of Association Latin America Art, Latin America Indian Lits. Association (vice president since 1989), The Literature Society, Society Women Geographers (museum committee 1994—2006).