Mayan script : a civilization and its writing /

"This handbook unlocks the secrets of the symbolic written characters of the ancient Maya of Mexico, providing a vivid portrait of their gods, people, and everyday life." "Maya Script presents about 200 Maya glyphs, or symbolic figures, taken from carved stone reliefs, ceremonial arti...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Longhena, María
Format: Book
Language:English
Italian
Published: New York : Abbeville Press Publishers, 2000
Edition:English language ed., 1st ed
Subjects:
Description
Summary:"This handbook unlocks the secrets of the symbolic written characters of the ancient Maya of Mexico, providing a vivid portrait of their gods, people, and everyday life." "Maya Script presents about 200 Maya glyphs, or symbolic figures, taken from carved stone reliefs, ceremonial artifacts, and rare Maya codices. Some are ideograms (pictorial symbols representing things, not words); others are phonetic signs. The glyphs express kings, queens, heroes, animals, customs such as their remarkable burial system, and abstract concepts. Each one opens a window on fragments of everyday life, gods and ceremonies, even emotions. Some give us portraits of the great leaders who played important roles in the rise of this extraordinary culture. The complexity of their incredible calendar and astronomical calculations reveals a highly developed civilization."--BOOK JACKET
Physical Description:180 p. : ill., maps ; 25 cm
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references (p. 176) and index
ISBN:0789206536 (alk. paper)