Maya Hieroglyphic Texts

Maya inscription and translation resources

Maya Codices – A translation-focused resource with searchable translations and analysis of four Maya codices. Useful if the priority is to read translated Maya texts, although it focuses on codices rather than a broad monument corpus. Link

Maya Hieroglyphic Text and Image Archive (Bonn / ClassicMayan) – A modern archive of Maya inscriptions with faceted search, photos, drawings, metadata, and ongoing transcription and translation work. One of the best broad inscription archives, although many entries are still incomplete. Link

Copán, Stela A (example record from the Bonn archive) – An example item from the Bonn / ClassicMayan archive showing the type of material available, including metadata, image access, and structured inscription documentation. Link

FAMSI Montgomery Drawings Collection – A searchable collection of John Montgomery’s drawings of Maya inscriptions. Many entries include short English explanations describing what the text records, such as accessions, rulers, captives, and period endings. Link

MayaVase / Justin Kerr Database – A major resource for painted ceramic texts, especially rollout photographs of Maya vessels. Some entries include links to translations of the texts and to scholarly essays explaining the inscriptions and iconography. Main site Database Articles

The Hieroglyphic Inscriptions of Southern Belize – A downloadable PDF study of inscriptions from southern Belize. Especially useful because it analyzes each text on a glyph-by-glyph basis with transliteration and translation. Link

Mesoweb – A site with many downloadable resources on Maya inscriptions, including site-specific studies, drawings, and epigraphic notes. Especially useful for detailed studies of individual monuments and texts. Index

Some Working Notes on the Text of Tikal Stela 31 – A Mesoweb PDF focused on the reading and interpretation of Tikal Stela 31. A good example of a translation-oriented study of a single inscription. Link

Classic Maya Vocabulary of Hieroglyphic Readings – A PDF reference work useful alongside inscription corpora. It gives Classic Maya terms with English translations, hieroglyphic spellings, and transliterations. Link

Hieroglyphic Decipherment Guide – A practical guide for understanding Maya glyphs, transliteration conventions, and literal translations. Not a corpus, but very useful when working with inscription resources. Link