Cracking the Maya Code (2008)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cracking the Maya Code is a documentary film which was shown on US television (PBS) in April 2008.

 

It is an episode of the long-running program NOVA which focuses on the history of science and technology (season 35, episode 14).

 

Here is some basic information about this film:

 

** Written and directed by David Lebrun

** Based on the book Breaking the Maya Code by Michael D. Coe (1992) (2011)

** Narrated by Jay O. Sanders

** Run time: 55 minutes

 

Several experts are interviewed in the film. Here are the names of the participants (listed in alphabetical order):

 

** Michael D. Coe, emeritus professor, Yale University

** William L. Fash, archaeologist, Harvard University

** Gillett Griffin, art historian, Princeton University

** Nicholas Hopkins, linguist, Florida State University

** Stephen D. Houston, archaeologist, Brown University

** Kathryn Josserand (1942-2006), linguist, Florida State University

** Barbara Macleod, linguist and archaeologist

** Simon Martin, epigrapher, La Trobe University

** Lolmay Garcia Matzar, linguist, OKMA Language Centre

** Linda Schele (1942-1998), epigrapher, University of Texas

** David Stuart (son of George Stuart), epigrapher, University of Texas

** George Stuart (father of David Stuart), historian

 

This film is divided into five chapters.

 

Here are the headlines:

 

# 1. The Forgotten Maya Temples

# 2. A Hidden History

# 3. Political Roadblock

# 4. Child’s Play

# 5. Cultural revelations

 

When the Spanish forces came to Central America around 1500, they wanted the local population to take Christian names and to use the Spanish language.

 

Maya temples were decorated with inscriptions, but for the Spanish forces, they were the work of the devil and they did not want anything to do with them.

 

The Spanish forces decided that all books with Maya writings should be burned. Very few Maya books survived. When the Maya scribes passed away, there was no longer anyone in the world who could read the Maya language. For more than two hundred years, several generations of scholars tried to crack the Maya code.

 

But now the code has been cracked. Once again it is possible to read the Maya inscriptions on the temples in Central America as well as the few Maya books which survived the Spanish book burning campaign of the 16th century. In this film we learn how it happened.

 

It was not the work of one scholar, but the collective work of several generations of scholars.

 

Some of the early assumptions turned out to be wrong, but they were all a step on the way to the total and final understanding of the Maya inscriptions.

 

The process was long and complicated, but in this film, it is explained very well.

 

If you are interested in the history of the world – in particular the history of ancient and lost civilizations – this film is definitely something for you.

 

It is highly recommended.

 

PS # 1. This film, which runs for almost one hour, is a short version of a much longer film which premiered in 2007:  

 

Breaking the Maya Code

 

This version runs for almost two hours. It is basically the same film, but since there is more time, there is more information about the Maya civilization and more details about how the code was finally cracked.

 

PS # 2. For more information about this topic, see the following books:

 

** Reading the Maya Glyphs by Michael D. Coe (2001) (2016)

** Royal Cities of the Ancient Maya by Michael D. Coe (2012)

** The Maya by Michael D. Coe and Stephen Houston (2015)

** Palenque: Eternal City of the Maya by David Stuart (2008)

** Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens by Simon Martin (2008)

 

*****

Breaking the Maya Code

By Michael D. Coe

(1992) (2011)

 

*****