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Reading the Maya Glyphs, Second Edition Paperback – June 17, 2005

by Michael D. Coe (Author), Mark Van Stone (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 181 ratings
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The breaking of the Maya code has completely changed our knowledge of this ancient civilization, and has revealed the Maya people's long and vivid history.

Decipherment of Maya hieroglyphic writing has progressed to the point where most Maya written texts―whether inscribed on monuments, written in the codices, or painted or incised on ceramics―can now be read with confidence.

In this practical guide, first published in 2001, Michael D. Coe, the noted Mayanist, and Mark Van Stone, an accomplished calligrapher, have made the difficult, often mysterious script accessible to the nonspecialist. They decipher real Maya texts, and the transcriptions include a picture of the glyph, the pronunciation, the Maya words in Roman type, and the translation into English. For the second edition, the authors have taken the latest research and breakthroughs into account, adding glyphs, updating captions, and reinterpreting or expanding upon earlier decipherments.

After an introductory discussion of Maya culture and history and the nature of the Maya script, the authors introduce the glyphs in a series of chapters that elaborate on topics such as the intricate calendar, warfare, royal lives and rituals, politics, dynastic names, ceramics, relationships, and the supernatural world. The book includes illustrations of historic texts, a syllabary, a lexicon, and translation exercises. Illustrated in two colors throughout
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  1. Print length
    176 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Thames & Hudson
  4. Publication date
    June 17, 2005
  5. Dimensions
    6.2 x 0.7 x 9.1 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9780500285534
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0500285534
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Succeeds all fronts, featuring clear detailed, color contrasted drawings and numerous photographs and exercises."

About the Author

Michael D. Coe (1929– 2019) was Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at Yale University and Curator Emeritus for the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University. His books include The Maya, Mexico, and Breaking the Maya Code.

Mark Van Stone trained as a type designer, stone carver, and art historian, and is the leading interpreter of Maya calligraphic art.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0500285535
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Thames & Hudson; Second edition (June 17, 2005)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 176 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780500285534
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0500285534
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.01 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.2 x 0.7 x 9.1 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 181 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Mark L Van Stone

    Mark L Van Stone

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    Mark Van Stone, Ph.D., G.F.

    Professor of Art History, Southwestern College

    Dr. Van Stone received his undergraduate degree (Oxy ‘73) in Physics and worked in the gamma-ray astronomy laboratory at the University of New Hampshire for four years, until lured away to self-employment as a calligrapher and carver. In the world of calligraphy and type design, he established himself as an expert in paleography and the evolution of written forms, teaching and lecturing widely on the subject for the next twenty years.

    A lifelong autodidact, he constantly availed himself of opportunities to study in the reading rooms and storerooms of libraries and museums great and small throughout the world. A stint as a clay-animator at Will Vinton Studios and study with netsuke carver Saito Bishu Sensei in Kawaguchi, Japan focused his skills as a sculptor, along with his understanding of the cultures of animation, filmmaking, and Japan. A Guggenheim Fellowship took him around the world, studying and photographing manuscripts and inscriptions of many nations, from Medieval Europe and the Islamic world, to Southeast Asia and Japan, to Central America.

    Although conversant in all these calligraphic traditions, he chose to focus on the most-complex and least-well-understood script, Maya Hieroglyphs, and entered the University of Texas graduate school under the reknowned Linda Schele in 1994. He received his MA in 1996 and his Ph.D. in 2005. During this time, he co-authored "Reading the Maya Glyphs" with eminent archaeologist Michael Coe; it is the standard introduction to the topic.

    He is now Professor of Art History at Southwestern College, with a new book, “2012 – Science and Prophecy of the Ancient Maya” published in 2010. He considers his dual background in science and art essential to his unique understanding of Maya calligraphy, and of the development of all writing systems as visual art.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Michael D. Coe

    Michael D. Coe

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at Yale University, Michael D. Coe is a specialist in the comparative study of ancient, tropical forest civilizations. Coe's books include The Maya, Mexico, The True History of Chocolate, Breaking the Maya Code, Reading the Maya Glyphs, and Angkor and the Khmer Civilization.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
181 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Richard A. Guthrie MD
5.0 out of 5 stars Michael Coe is a great expert on Maya culture & writing
Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2016
Verified Purchase
Michael Coe is a great expert on Maya culture & writing. He was a member of the team that broke the Maya code. Read his book called "Breaking the Maya Code" where he outlines the process required of the team of diverse people to begin to understand the system of writing. Here he explains how the Maya wrote it. It is complicated and involves sounds, pictures, numbers & combinations with the emblems often moved around on different glyphs of the same word. This is complicated but fascinating. The book is slow reading but a great learning experience. If you are going to Central America or are just interested in the culture, language or writing of ancient cultures, this is a good book to read & use as a reference. There are other books on Maya glyphs but few who know more or write better than Michael Coe. RAG
12 people found this helpful
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Edith V
5.0 out of 5 stars In perfect condition
Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2024
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I loved that the product was in perfect condition and that the writing was in big enough print. This was a book for school so the content is relevant to what I need it for but if you are looking to have this as a fun read to brush up on your transcriptions then this is the book for you
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars This 3as a used book. In excellent condition
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2023
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The reader is immersed into the ancient Maya culture and language. Very interesting read for us nerds.
One person found this helpful
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BC
5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book for Novice Epigraphers
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2002
Verified Purchase
I recently took a Maya Glyph class and was getting destroyed trying to follow the teacher. I had absolutely no idea what was going on. When I got this book things started to make sense. (Unfortunately, I bought it too late in the semester to help my grade any.) Coe presents glyphs and the accompanying grammar in a concise clear manner that even those with no prior experience in any related subject can understand. The Maya Lexicon is also a helpful tool for tyros like me who are just beginning to study this fascinating writing system. While it is true that these examples are stylized and not from actually monuments, for the beginner this is much easier to follow. In addition, the accompanying text is well written and an enjoyable read.
78 people found this helpful
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Crifi
4.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2009
Verified Purchase
I am an artist who wanted to take on a 20 year hobby of learning how to draw and read at least basic Maya glyphs. The book is easy to understand and read while still being intellectual (you are learning maya glyphs after all).

The illustrations are great to reference in drawing, and I do think they are better than the illustrations printed in "How to Read Maya Hieroglyphs".
9 people found this helpful
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Salvador Carrillo M
5.0 out of 5 stars Better than Cracking the Maya Code
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2013
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This book is better for just understanding and learning about the Maya glyphs. It has exercises and all the glyphs are in red (the book uses two colors: black for letters and red for glyphs). This actually helps a lot. Buy this book if you don't know anything about mayan glyphs and want to learn. Maya writing is very different from english and this is reflected deep into the glyphs, so is not too easy to learn by yourself, but this book will help.
10 people found this helpful
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Leigh
5.0 out of 5 stars An udated classic
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2017
Verified Purchase
What can I say? This is THE reference for the Mayan language, written by the acknowledged expert in the field. Excellent reference. I've been working in this field for almost 40 years (I'm the author of MayaDate). I'm absolutely amazed at how much we've learned over that period of time.
2 people found this helpful
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Julia
5.0 out of 5 stars Mesmer and Michael Coe.
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2013
Verified Purchase
Being on a desert island with this book and Michael Coe (platonically) (though, I'm open...), would be great. This book, easily read...and for the armchair Mayanist, is not at all elementary. Coe assumes the reader is intelligent, this is nice...refreshing...and wonderful. Nothing new-agey here. It is actually simple...if you want to learn glyph, here's the book. But, a trip to the land itself would be grand.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Cliente Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Ottimo manuale per principianti
Reviewed in Italy on May 22, 2021
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Se siete incuriositi dai geroglifici maya e volete conoscerli, questo è il libro che fa per voi.
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Cliente Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Esencial
Reviewed in Spain on January 10, 2022
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Un libro esencial para aprender a leer los signos jeroglíficos mayas
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JT
5.0 out of 5 stars Present
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 20, 2018
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Present
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Benedikt Möller
5.0 out of 5 stars Lernbuch
Reviewed in Germany on September 9, 2017
Verified Purchase
Von allen Einführungen, die ich bisher fand, sicherlich das beste. Man kommt gut hinterher, Kapitel enthalten nicht zu viel auf einmal und die Zeichnungen sind wirklich sehr ordentlich.
2 people found this helpful
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Igern
5.0 out of 5 stars Bonne introduction à la lecture de l'écriture maya
Reviewed in France on August 28, 2017
Verified Purchase
Excellent ouvrage d'introduction à toute personne qui s'intéresse à cette écriture précolombienne.
J'aime beaucoup la clarté et la méthode des auteurs - ainsi que la qualité de la calligraphie.
Un "must have" pour les amateurs et pour les étudiants archéologues qui débutent.
One person found this helpful
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