Maya script

E153782

Maya script is the complex logosyllabic writing system of the ancient Maya, used to record their history, rituals, astronomy, and royal lineages on monuments, codices, and artifacts.

All labels observed (1)

Label Occurrences
Maya script canonical 21

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (61)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Mesoamerican script
logosyllabic script
writing system
associatedWith Haabʼ
surface form: Haabʼ calendar

Long Count calendar
Tzolkʼin calendar
culturalSignificance primary written record of ancient Maya civilization
deciphermentKeyFigure David Stuart
Linda Schele
Tatiana Proskouriakoff
Yuri Knorozov
deciphermentStatus largely deciphered
partially deciphered
floruit Classic period of Maya civilization
geographicRegion Belize
El Salvador
Guatemala
Mesoamerica
Yucatán Peninsula
western Honduras
hasFeature glyph blocks combining multiple signs
numerical notation with dot-and-bar system
phonetic complements
languageOf Mayan languages
surface form: Classic Maya language

various Mayan languages
numberOfSignsApproximate 800
primaryMedium bone artifacts
ceramic vessels
codices
shell artifacts
stone monuments
stucco
relatedTo Epi-Olmec script
Isthmian script (in some regions)
surface form: Isthmian script
scriptCodeISO15924 Maya
scriptFamily Mesoamerican writing systems
timePeriodEnd post-contact colonial period
timePeriodStart Late Preclassic period
c. 3rd century BCE
UNESCOMemoryOfTheWorld Maya codices
surface form: Dresden Codex

Grolier Codex (Maya Codex of Mexico)
Madrid Codex
Paris Codex
usedBy Maya civilization
usedFor calendrical records
mythological narratives
political propaganda
recording astronomy
recording history
recording rituals
recording royal lineages
uses logograms
syllabic signs
writingDirection left-to-right
top-to-bottom in paired columns
writingSupports altars
bark-paper codices
lintels
murals
stone stelae
writingSystemType logosyllabic

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (21)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Mayan languages hasWritingSystem Maya script
Tikal writingSystem Maya script
Copán hasWritingSystem Maya script
Itza Maya usedWritingSystem Maya script
Maya codices writingSystem Maya script
Maya numerals associatedWithScript Maya script
Group of the Cross writingSystem Maya script
Maya usedWritingSystem Maya script
subject surface form: Maya civilization
Zapotec script relatedTo Maya script
Isthmian script (in some regions) possiblyRelatedTo Maya script
subject surface form: Isthmian script
Isthmian script (in some regions) distinctFrom Maya script
subject surface form: Isthmian script
Maya peoples writingSystem Maya script
Dzibanché writingSystem Maya script
Dos Pilas writingSystem Maya script
Kaan usedWritingSystem Maya script
Maya calendar writingSystem Maya script
Altar de Sacrificios writingSystem Maya script
Yaxhá hasWritingSystem Maya script