Among all existing writing systems in Mesoamerica, according to some experts, the Mayan writing is considered one of the most developed. This writing system, in fact, was the result of the cultural exchange established with the Olmec civilization, which previously occupied the Mexican region between the years 1500 and 400 BC. representing sounds or symbols.
Researchers have not yet been able to fully decipher the codes used by the Mayans. It is only with the aid of computers that, recently, about half of the characters have been translated. All this difficulty comes from the lack of a simplified pattern where a glyph represents a single sound or letter. Mayan writing uses the same character to represent two or more symbols and sounds. At the same time, the same concept could be represented by completely different characters.
In addition to constituting a form of communication among the Mayans, writing also had a religious link. The Mayans believed that writing was a gift from the gods and, therefore, should be taught to a privileged part of the population. In general, they used different materials to record some information. Stones, wood, paper and ceramics were the most common materials. In addition, the Mayans also made books and codices made from plant fiber, resin and lime.
In general, the Mayan documents privileged the record of the daily facts of the people. An important function of writing was the recording of time, by which periods of religious celebration were regulated. Other writings told of the development of new religious knowledge and rituals. Unfortunately, much of this material was lost with the process of Spanish domination. Bishop Diego Landa, in 1566, endeavored to translate some documents with the help of the catechized Indians.
The process of Spanish domination tried to incinerate the vast majority of written Mayan documentation. Under Church approval, Mayan records were burned because of their pagan origins. Currently, only three major works of literate Mayan culture have been preserved. These are the Codex Dresdensis, Tro-Cortesianus and Peresianus codices. These valuable sources of research are found separately in museums in Germany, Spain and France.
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