The Decipherment of Maya Script
Ancient Americas・2 minutes read
Maya script was a unique writing system used for recording histories and scientific works, but its decipherment faced challenges until recent efforts, similar to the decipherment of Egyptian hieroglyphs by Champollion. The breakthrough in understanding Maya script came from scholars like Yuri Knorozov, challenging earlier beliefs and leading to significant progress in deciphering the script.
Insights
- The Maya script was a comprehensive writing system used for historical records, scientific texts, and royal decrees, showcasing the advanced civilization of the Maya people.
- The decipherment of the Maya script required a deep understanding of the language, cultural context, and comparison with known scripts, with Yuri Knorozov's recognition of the logo-syllabic nature being a pivotal moment leading to further breakthroughs in decoding the script.
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Recent questions
What is the Maya script?
The Maya script is a writing system used by the Maya civilization for various purposes like recording histories, scientific works, and royal proclamations.
How did the decipherment of Maya script begin?
The decipherment of Maya script began with Diego de Landa, a Franciscan priest who attempted to learn the script but failed due to misunderstanding its logo-syllabic nature.
Who made a significant breakthrough in deciphering Maya script?
Yuri Knorozov, a Soviet soldier, made a significant breakthrough in deciphering Maya script by realizing its logo-syllabic nature and matching sounds from de Landa's alphabet to glyphs.
What was the prevailing belief about Maya writing before the breakthrough?
Before the breakthrough in deciphering Maya script, the prevailing belief was that Maya writing was indecipherable, with scholars like Thompson arguing for abstract symbols and ideographs.
How did the understanding of Maya writing progress in the 20th century?
In the 20th century, scholars like Thompson and Whorf were divided on the nature of Maya script, with Thompson believing in abstract symbols and ideographs, while Whorf argued for a phonetic representation. The breakthrough in deciphering Maya script came from scholars like Yuri Knorozov, Canora's off, and Tatiana Proskouriakoff, challenging the prevailing belief and leading to significant progress in understanding Maya writing.
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