An Introduction to the Study of the Maya Hieroglyphs (Dover Pictorial Archives) [Paperback]

Sylvanus Griswold Morley (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dover Pictorial Archives | Publication Date: June 1, 1975

Best introduction to the topic — easily accessible to beginners. Extremely full in interpretation; very thorough in exposition of variants and unusual features, with reproductions of many inscriptions unavailable elsewhere. Material from Old and New Empires.

Product Details

• Paperback: 284 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (June 1, 1975)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486231089
• ISBN-13: 978-0486231082
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #244,496 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #19 in Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Languages > Instruction > Native American
  • #94 in Books > History > Ancient > Mayan

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive beginner's book, and at a bargain price, too, April 6, 2001

By 

Rafael Kühn (Dresden, Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Introduction to the Study of the Maya Hieroglyphs (Dover Pictorial Archives) (Paperback)

If you're interested in the fascinating and complex world of Maya hieroglyphs and calendrics, and searching for a book that provides an easily understandable introduction into this rather complicated realm, then look no further. Despite being over 80 years old, Morley's book is still the perfect beginner's playfield, combining logical structure, extremely detailed explanations and lots of examples to create a highly readable volume that's both scientifically brilliant and understandable for everyone at the same time. It is of course not a complete reference guide, having been written long before the recent decipherments of Maya writing and before all the calendric glyphs were known, with the short historical section being badly dated - but that's secondary. It wants to help readers with their first steps into its subject matter, the Maya calendar glyphs, and that it does with commendable ease and clarity. This book was the principal starting point of many a major player in the field of epigraphy, and this it could well remain for the next generation of researchers and armchair-archaeologists alike. To buy or not to buy? No question here.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Still worth having., October 1, 2002

By 

D. P. Birkett (Suffern, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Introduction to the Study of the Maya Hieroglyphs (Dover Pictorial Archives) (Paperback)

Of course this was written before the Knorosov and Prouskouriakoff decipherments but it's very nicely illustrated and has clear explanations of the numbers and calendar, which are as far as most of us are likely to get. The first chapter is way out of date. It's based on Diego de Landa and Chilem Balaaam and they've found out a lot more stuff since then. (It seems strange to talk of history going out of date.) The price is right.

9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very detailed, June 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: An Introduction to the Study of the Maya Hieroglyphs (Dover Pictorial Archives) (Paperback)

This book is a very detailed explanation of the mayan calender and associated hieroglyphic symbols. I liked this book but was writted before the deciferment of the mayan written language.