The Maya

The Maya. Voices in Stone deals with the history of this civilization, mainly during the Classic period, through the study of its hieroglyphic texts, a study that in recent years has seen great progress and led to surprising findings. Material objects—the legacy of outstanding artists who created intriguing imagery in various media—allow us a glance into the cosmovision and customs of the fascinating world of the ancient Maya. The decipherment of their hieroglyphic writing has given us access to new information that was not recorded in their art. It has made it possible to reconstruct the lives and deeds of ancient rulers, the charges and functions of important characters in Maya courts, and the celebration of rites and ceremonies, as well as the waging of various wars and the establishment of alliances between states.

The chapters that make up this book are the result of dedicated research by specialists in Maya civilization, who nevertheless present their findings in a way that is accessible to all those who are interested in the history of this culture. Since this is a compilation of the work of many academics, we have endeavoured to respect the spellings each author has given in the transcription of hieroglyphic texts, as well as their views on chronology.

The new chapters, figures, maps, and illustrations of this revised and enlarged edition will facilitate and enrich the reading experience of all kinds of readers. This is an indispensable book for anybody who is interested in stepping into the complex world of the ancient Maya and getting to know better their artistic accomplishments, their political organization, their funerary rites, their writing, their war practices, their architecture, their everyday life, and many other aspects of this great civilization.