Maya script
Introduction
The Maya script, also known as Maya glyphs or Maya hieroglyphs, is an ancient writing system that was used by the Maya civilization of Mesoamerica. This script is the only Mesoamerican writing system that has been substantially deciphered, with approximately 90% of the script understood by modern scholars.
Origins and Development
The origins of the Maya script are believed to date back to the 1st century BC or earlier. The earliest known inscriptions in the Maya script are from the 3rd century BC. The script continued to be used up to the Spanish conquest in the 16th century AD. The script evolved over time, with different regions and periods showing variations in glyph style and usage.
Structure and Function
The Maya script is a complex system that combines logographic and syllabic elements. Logograms represent words or concepts, while syllables represent sounds. The script is often described as a logosyllabic system. The script was used to write the Maya language and included a set of more than 800 distinct signs or glyphs.
Decipherment
The process of deciphering the Maya script has been a long and complex one, beginning in the 19th century and continuing to the present day. The breakthrough in the decipherment came in the 1950s and 1960s with the work of Russian linguist Yuri Valentinovich Knorozov, who proposed that the script was a combination of syllabic and logographic signs.
Usage and Significance
The Maya script was used for a variety of purposes, from recording historical events to detailing religious rituals and astronomical observations. The script was primarily used by the elite class of the Maya society, including the royal court and the priesthood.
Preservation and Study
Despite the destruction of many Maya texts during the Spanish conquest, a significant number of inscriptions have survived, primarily on stone monuments, ceramics, and other artifacts. Three codices (folded screen books) have also survived. The study of the Maya script and the information it contains continues to be a significant area of research in Mesoamerican studies.