Philipp J. J. Valentini
Encyclopedia
Philipp Johann Joseph Valentini (1828 – March 16, 1899) was an explorer and archaeologist of the Central American Pre-Columbian cultures. He worked extensively on diciphering the Mexican calendar stone
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and later the University of Berlin before he left Germany for Costa Rica
where he founded the seaport Puerto Limón under government auspices in 1854.
In 1858 he returned to Germany to obtain a PhD at the University of Jena, writing his dissertation about the early history of Costa Rica. From 1861 to 1871 Valentini went back once again to Costa Rica to work as a coffee planter, but travelled extensively in Central America. After 1871 he went to New York where he spent the rest of his life until his death in March 1899.
Most of these were released later in book format.
Other Works
Note: Most of the texts have been translated to English by Stephen Salisbury Jr.
Aztec calendar
The Aztec calendar is the calendar system that was used by the Aztecs as well as other Pre-Columbian peoples of central Mexico. It is one of the Mesoamerican calendars, sharing the basic structure of calendars from throughout ancient Mesoamerica....
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Life
Philipp J. J. Valentini was born to a German mother and Italian father in Berlin, Germany in 1828. His father was probably a tutor at the royal court of Prussia. He attended the Gymnasium of TorgauTorgau
Torgau is a town on the banks of the Elbe in northwestern Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district Nordsachsen.Outside Germany, the town is most well known as the place where during the Second World War, United States Army forces coming from the west met with forces of the Soviet Union...
and later the University of Berlin before he left Germany for Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
where he founded the seaport Puerto Limón under government auspices in 1854.
In 1858 he returned to Germany to obtain a PhD at the University of Jena, writing his dissertation about the early history of Costa Rica. From 1861 to 1871 Valentini went back once again to Costa Rica to work as a coffee planter, but travelled extensively in Central America. After 1871 he went to New York where he spent the rest of his life until his death in March 1899.
Works
Articles in Scientific Magazines- in "Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society":
- The Mexican Calender Stone, No. 71, p. 91 (April 1878)
- Mexican Copper Tools, No. 73, p. 81 (April 1879)
- Katunes of the Maya History, No. 74, p. 71 (October 1879)
- The Landa Alphabet, No. 75, p. 59 (April 1880)
- Mexican Paper, No. 76, p. 58 (October 1880)
- Analysis of the pictorial text inscribed on two Palenque Tablets, (1895)
- A new, and an old Map of Yucatan in "Magazine of American History" (1879)
Most of these were released later in book format.
Other Works
- Two Mexican Chal chihuites (1881)
- The Olmecas and the Tul tecas (1883)
- A Study of the Voyage of Pinzon to America (1898)
Note: Most of the texts have been translated to English by Stephen Salisbury Jr.
Stephen Salisbury III
Stephen Salisbury III , also referred to as Stephen Salisbury Jr., graduated from Harvard College in 1856. The son of a wealthy landowner, Salisbury helped manage the family's extensive properties and businesses in Worcester County, Massachusetts...
Further reading
- Der Deutsche Pionier. Monatsschrift für Erinnerungen aus dem deutschen Pionier-Leben in den Vereinigten Staaten., 14. Jahrgang 1882/1883, p. 479: Review of "Two Mexican Chalchinites, The Humboldt Celt, and The Leyden Plate" and "Mexican Paper. An Article of Tribute; Its Manufacture, Varieties, Employment and Use" (German) online version at Forschungsstelle Deutsche Auswanderer in den USA – Dausa (last viewed: May 24, 2011)
- At www.archive.org: