Understanding Maya Inscriptions: A Hieroglyph Handbook [Paperback]

John F. Harris (Author), Stephen K. Stearns (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0924171413 | ISBN-13: 978-0924171413 | Edition: Second Edition

This second edition includes revised and updated versions of three earlier publications: Understanding Maya Inscriptions: A Hieroglyph Handbook; New and Recent Maya Hieroglyph Readings; and A Resource Bibliography for the Decipherment of Maya Hieroglyphs and New Maya Hieroglyph Readings.

This volume is designed to function as a self-teaching tool to help the neophyte, and yet be of value to scholars. It introduces the latest methods of analysis, illustrates techniques for computing Maya calendrics, uses the currently accepted orthography, provides syllabary and syntax, suggests new glyph readings, and presents various interpretations.

Product Details

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology; Second Edition edition (January 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0924171413
• ISBN-13: 978-0924171413
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 9.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #777,103 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #62 in Books > Education & Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Foreign Language > Native American
  • #80 in Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Languages > Instruction > Native American

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Introduction to Mayan Hieroglyphs, August 11, 2000

By 

Paul V Caetano - See all my reviews

This review is from: Understanding Maya Inscriptions: A Hieroglyph Handbook (Paperback)

Mayan epigraphy is still an exciting and rapidly changing field with new discoveries being made. This book opened the door of this field to me. The book presents the basic knowledge of Mayan calendrics, vocabulary and grammar clearly with ample examples from inscriptions. The technique of structural analysis used by most Mayan epigraphers is also well described. Included are several examples of structural analysis applied to texts. Interesting chapters also cover the origins of the writing system and Mayan astronomy/astrology as revealed by the texts. If you want to get started with Mayan epigraphy, I heartily recommend this book. The extensive bibliography will then help you know where to go next for further study of Mayan epigraphy.

One word of caution. The book is arranged in chapters for specific topics not in graded lessons as is usual for an introductory language text.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Strictly for glyphies, September 26, 2002

By 

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

This review is from: Understanding Maya Inscriptions: A Hieroglyph Handbook (Paperback)

This is a heavy duty text rather than an introduction. If you are just a dumb tourist like myself visiting Copan (there are hardly any inscriptions in Chichen Itza or Northern Yucatan -usually the places with the good inscriptions are hard or dangerous to get to - even Copan right now)and you want to understand the numbers and dates you might be better off with something simpler. In fact, for numbers and dates, old Sylvanus Griswold Morley is quite good (but don't let hard-core glyphies hear you say that). You can buy lots of gizmos with diagrams of the calendar round. I could not understand the Harris and Stearns chapter on astronomy.
This stuff keeps getting updated - the University of Pennsylvania issues supplements.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars emmanuel swedenborg, July 30, 2004

By 

Recep Sami Ciner (Ankara Turkey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Understanding Maya Inscriptions: A Hieroglyph Handbook (Paperback)

This deserve a heartfelt applause.In comparison to other works in this field this is the most helpful book to solve the enigma of Mayan writing system.I recommend sincerely.