The Inscriptions from Temple XIX at Palenque [Hardcover]

David Stuart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 2005

This groundbreaking study is invaluable not just for its decipherment of Mayan glyphs, but for the many congent observations on Maya mythology, royal ritual, biography, and the history of Palenque, a great kingdom of the Classic Mayans.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Stuart is the world's leading expert on Mayan glyphs, as well as an authority on the history and religion of the ancient Maya. Dr. Stuart is the David and Linda Schele Professor of Mesoamerican Art & Writing at the University of Texas at Austin.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Pre-Columbian Art Research Institute (December 31, 2005)
• ISBN-10: 0934051100
• ISBN-13: 978-0934051101
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,629,065 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David Stuart (b. 1965) holds the Schele Chair in Mesoamerican Art and Writing at the University of Texas at Austin. He is an archaeologist who specializes in the study of ancient Maya civilization, focusing much of his research on the interpretation of art and the translation of hieroglyphic texts. He has been a major contributor to the decipherment of Maya hieroglyphs since a young age, and for his work was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship in 1984. In 2011 he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship. Stuart received his BA at Princeton University, his Doctorate at Vanderbilt University, and he taught at Harvard University from 1993 to 2004. He currently lives in Austin, Texas.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dr. David Stuart's New Book on Temple XIX Inscriptions, May 16, 2006

By 

Elaine Schele (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Inscriptions from Temple XIX at Palenque (Hardcover)

I am a student of the author, David Stuart, and I have just finished his "Advanced Maya Epigraphy" class at the University of Texas. I was thrilled when his book about Temple XIX was released, because he had already shared some of his insights with his students about these new inscriptions; and by reading the book I knew that I would learn even more about the inscriptions and about K'inich Ahkal Mo' Nahb, the grandson of the Pakal the great. Within this book, Dr. Stuart unravels the texts and iconography of Temple XIX and its associated sister, Temple XXI, to reveal a story of how the king ingeniously used deep-time mythology and sacred geography to try to bring order to his rule and how the king employed the age-old Maya tradition of impersonation, linking himself directly with the two most holy Palenque characters, one historical and the other mythological - the great ruler, Janab' Pakal, and the powerful god, G1.

The book is also a scholarly asset for me because, as a student of Maya epigraphy and a Palenque data monger (I can't get enough of it), I know that Prof. Stuart is the "go to" man for information on both. (He and his dad, George Stuart, retired head archaeologist for National Geographic, have a new book in press on ancient Palenque to be released soon). If you have ever wondered how Maya epigraphers go about deciphering a text, the Temple XIX Inscriptions book is the perfect case study. The volume is remarkable in that it contains here-to-fore unpublished epigraphic ideas and observations that have recently been exchanged between the top Maya epigraphers, but have never gotten into the printed record. He calls this material the "grey literature" of letters and e-mail that only the few get to see. Thank you Dr. Stuart.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars David Stuart's INSCRIPTIONS FROM TEMPLE XIX, May 5, 2006

By 

Cybulmaya "Sam" (CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Inscriptions from Temple XIX at Palenque (Hardcover)

In addition to his decipherment of the recently excavated religious & cosmological texts, this jewel of a book includes Stuart's reasoning and insights into Palenque's lesser known dynastic events & individuals---plus new additions & revisions of previously known data about the legendary city.

AND the book is a rare visual treasure in its design, production, and outstanding photography of Temple XIX sculptures--recording in incredibly crisp focus & luminous color the intricately graceful details of the glyphs--and of the clothing, adornment & physical features of the personages carved by Palenque's ancient Master Artists.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DECIPHERING THE STORY OF ANCIENT MAYA KINGS, April 29, 2006

By 

Sue Glenn (Blowing Rock, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Inscriptions from Temple XIX at Palenque (Hardcover)

For anyone the least bit interested in the ancient Maya, their "lost" civilization, and their mysterious hieroglyphic writing system, this new book by the brilliant David Stuart is a must! The photographs by Jorge Perez de Lara are simply magnificent. Stuart explains, step-by-step, the story told about ancient Palenque by glyphic inscriptions that were just found a few years ago. This is a unique opportunity to witness how "glyphers" decipher these mysterious texts, glyph-by-glyph, with explanations and insights from one of the best Maya scholars in the world.