Reading the Maya Glyphs

by Michael D. Coe, Mark Van Stone

Decipherment of Maya hieroglyphic writing has reached the point that most Maya textswhether inscribed on the monuments, written in the codices, or painted or incised on ceramicscan now be read with some confidence. The "breaking of the Maya code" has completely changed our knowledge of this ancient civilization, and has given the Maya people a long and vivid history lacking in other areas of the pre-Columbian New World. In the recent past, a working knowledge of this script has been confined to epigraphers, art historians, and other specialists. Its very unfamiliarity to the general public, and the daunting aspect of its approximately 800 signs, have made the system appear more complex and arcane than it really is. Reading the Maya Glyphs is a compact, portable guide that enables students, tourists, and armchair travelers to read and understand commonly encountered Classic Maya texts. Illustrated by the drawings of Mark Van Stone, one of America's most gifted calligraphers, it presupposes no previous training in Maya epigraphy or archaeology. In the hands of visitors to the great Maya sites of Mexico and Central America, or consulted by museum-goers, this guide will enhance appreciation of some of the world's greatest art and architecture. Topics covered include the nature of the language and the writing system, the intricate Maya calendar, dynastic and political texts, and the Maya natural and supernatural world. Informed by the latest research on the script, Reading the Maya Glyphs is a window on the vanished world of the ancient Maya rulers and their people. Illustrated in 2 colors throughout.

Genres: Nonfiction, Language, History, Linguistics, Archaeology, Reference

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Michael Douglas Coe was an American archaeologist, anthropologist, epigrapher, and author. He is known for his research on pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, particularly the Maya, and was among the foremost Mayanists of the late twentieth century.

Reviews

[Clinton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, when you sit down to read what is effectively a college textbook, I guess you should expect it to be a little dry. This was an interesting introduction to the subject of a completely different writing system. I might use it to translate my name into Mayan or something like that.

I've also picked up Breaking the Mayan Code and will read it soon. It should be a little bit easier to read since it will have, like, narrative and stuff.

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

11/10/10: I wanted to reread this for my honeymoon, and it definitely helped to refresh my memory about the glyphs and Mayan vocabulary. I was able to recognize the Tikal emblem glyph and a few verbs when we were at the various sites, I was so excited.

[Ann Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource! This book offers clear and concise directions on the construction of each glyph and details its meaning as well. Instead of filling the reader's head with a wordy treatise, Messrs. Coe and Stone provide us with a brief background and then launch the reader into the colorful world of the Maya.

Great care was undertaken that this should not become a dusty book sitting on a shelf somewhere. This book can be readily used in the field! I poured over the Maya Lexicon and Syllabary, went back to the chapters on Dynastic Names and Time and the Calendar. I was fascinated by the Maya's grasp of concepts in the supernatural world, as well.

Absolutely marvelous! Well done.

[Matt Kelland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. The Maya language is kind of mindbending, but I think I've more or less got the hang of the basic structure thanks to this. It'll take me a while to actually feel like I can understand the inscriptions but this is a good starting point. It's definitely a book to come back to at some point, and work my way through each chapter again, giving myself plenty of time to practice each of the glyphs and learn the syllabary and logograms as well as the basic grammar.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a wonderful resource if you're interested in a self-study on the Glyphic writing system of the Maya. It's informative and can be helpful if you like things like to translate texts on say a museum pieces.

[Joe]

Reading the maya glyphs

[Ramiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very accesible introduction to Maya writing, it helped me understand the nature of the writing system, and all the parts that haven't been deciphered yet.

[Josef Hadi · Rating 5 out of 5]

قراءة رموز المايا، واحدة من اصعب اللغات المكتوبة والتي تم فك رموزها منتصف القرن العشرين، يحتوي الكتاب على كثير من الامثلة والرسومات وطرق قرائتها بصورة ممتعة من قبل مؤلف شارك بفك رموزها

[Line Saxtorph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to classic maya glyphs presented in a way that is both concise and user friendly

[Aepe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent first resource on the subject.

[Andrea M · Rating 4 out of 5]

For anyone who is fascinated with this puzzling language, this book gives you pictures for each syllable and examples of how the more abstract version of a word evolved into a highly stylized version over time. It's like a dictionary without being terribly boring. The glyphs are in red ink while all other text and images are in black. It has one exercise at the end of each chapter for the reader to test his skill at puzzling out their language.

[Adele Givens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading the Mayan Glyphs

I am learning about Mayan Glyphs the structure of this book makes learning about The Mayan glyphs fun and learnable. The history starts this amazing book and all information is like finding a treasure chest filled with treasure which is the glyphs and meaning and translation is updated here. I am pleased with this book.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best available if one were so inclined.