Maya Script: A Civilization and Its Writing

by Maria Longhena, Rosanna M. Giammanco Frongia

A fascinating handbook revealing the secrets of the symbolic written characters of the ancient Maya people, which provides a vivid portrait of their gods, people, and everyday life.

Maya Script presents about 200 Maya glyphs (symbolic figures). Some are ideograms while others are phonetic signs. The glyphs express people, animals, things, and such abstract concepts as death. Each one opens a window onto fragments of everyday life, religious beliefs, or even emotions. The complexity of the Maya calendar, mathematical computations, and astronomy reveals a highly developed civilization. This book also features two–color drawings of the glyphs, illustrations from reliefs and Spanish codices, and examples of Maya sculpture and paintings. Concluding the book are a chapter on writing systems of the New World, a bibliography, and an index of glyphs. This informative book is a travelogue back in time for anyone intrigued by ancient civilizations.

Genres: History, Linguistics

180 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1998

About the author

Maria Longhena studied ancient history at Bologna University and wrote her thesis on pre-Columbian history and civilizations of America. She has carried out research on collections of objects from pre-Columbian Peru at the Museo di Anthropologia at Florence University, the Musee de l'Homme in Paris, and the Musees Royaux d'Art et d'Histoire in Brussels. She has collaborated on several exhibitions dealing with pre-Columbian archaeology, and has specialized in the religions and writings of ancient Peru and ancient Mexico.

Reviews

[Ike Rakiecki · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting analysis of Mayan writing systems. The writer focused on the interpretation of codices, ruins, and artifacts originating from present day Mexico down to Peru and El Salvador. At times, the analyses became somewhat repetitive but it was a worthwhile read for those interested in archaeology, anthropology, linguistics, and art.

[Daniele Daldoss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una grandissima risorsa per chi come me è appassionato di culture precolombiane. Il manuale descrive il significato dei glifi più conosciuti anche tramite curiosità e aneddoti.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly interesting!

[Five 5 Five Lopez]

The information comes from a foreigner to the culture, so the interpretations are worth questioning. I believe some of it adds to the conversation on the maya, and the language components are more or less accurate. However I question all research that does not have the indigenous point represented and discussed, especially when the culture is still alive and well in parts of mexico and most of central america.

[Joe Vigil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this last year (2011). Lots of pictures and convenient summaries. Good fun.