A Primer of Mayan Hieroglyphics

by Daniel G. Brinton

III. GENERAL INDEX.

• Acan, [42]
• Acat, [43]
• Ah chuy kak, [44]
  • cun can, [44]
  • dziz, [42]
  • kak nech, [42]
  • kin xoc, [42]
  • ppua, [42]
  • puch, [44], [64]
• Ahulane, [44]
• Ah zakik ual, [42]
• Alphabets, of Landa, [14]; of other writers, [15]–17
• Anum, the first man, [46]
• Armadillo, the, [72]
• Aspersorium, the, [105], [123]
• Atlatl, the, [105]
• Bacabs, the, [40]
• Baptism, native, [76]
• Baton of office, [52], [128], [130]
• Bean symbol, [89], [121], [122]
  • sign, [89]
• Beards, on images, [39], [57]
• Bee god, the, [59]–61, [98]
• Bells, as ornaments, [64], [83]
• Ben, or Been, myths of, [113]
• Ben-ik sign, [91], [123]
• Birds, figures of, [72]
• Bissextile years, [26]
• Black gods, [66], [124]
• Calendar signs, [22]
  • systems, [26]–29
• Canopies, [96]
• Canzicnal, [41]
• Cardinal points, the, [40], [41], [108]
• Centeotl, [62]
• Ceremonial circuit, the, [41]
• Chac mool, [95]
• Chacs, the, [40]
• Chamay bac, [44]
• Chiapas, [37], [138]
• Chichen Itza, [38]
• Chilan Balam, Books of, [14], [19]
• Cit bolon tun, [42]
• Cloud balls, [98]
• Codices, the, [11]; as time-counts, [18]
• Colors, symbolism of, [40], [41]
  • signs for, [109]
• Comb sign, [86]
• Comets, [35]
• Conjurers, [68]
• Constellation band, the, [106]
• Copan, inscriptions, [21], [107], [136]
• Cork-screw curl, [98]
• Cosmic sign, the, [24], [50]
• Cosmogony of Mayas, [46]
• Cross hatching, [24], [96]
• Cross, Tablet of, [62], [137]
• Crotalean curve, [102]
• Cuculcan, [38], [49], [55]–57, [61]
• Cum ahau, [41]
• Days, hieroglyphs of, [109]
• Death, god of, [44], [64], [121]
  • signs for, [84], [97]
• Deers, [72], [119]
• Directive signs, [88], [108]
• Dogs, figures of, [71], [129]
  • signs for, [89], [95], [112], [125]
  • as food animals, [90]
• Dots, their meanings, [97]
• Drum signs, [91]. See pax
• Dwarfs, [43]
• Ear rings, [85]
• Earth-goddess, the, [61], [64], [91], [95], [100]
• Eclipses, [36]
• Ek ahau, [66], [67]
  • chua, [42], [66], [67]
• Epochs of the Universe, [46]
• Evening Star, the, [61], [64]
• Evil, gods of, [43]
• Eye, signs for, [83]–85
• Falcon, the crested, [74]
• Fans, [104], [105]
• Feather balls, [95]
  • signs, [84], [94]
• Female divinities, [40]–44
• Fish, [90]
• “Fish and oyster” sign, [89]
• Flatheads, [62]
• Flint-knife, the, [88], [109]
• Folk-lore of Yucatan, [43]
• Food offerings, the, [90]
  • sign for, [86]
• Frog, the, [75]
• Gemini, [35]
• Ghanan, [62], [123]
• Gukumatz, [38], [61]
• Hand, the, as deity, [38]
  • the closing, [102]
  • signs for, [82]
• Hex chun chan, [44]
• Hobnil, [40]
• Holy water, [104]
• House, signs for, [88]
• Hozan ek, [41]
• Huastecan, [10]
• Hunab ku, [37]
• Hun ahau, [44]
  • pic tok, [44]
• Ical ahau, [67], [124]
• Iguana, the, [90], [122]
• Ikonomatic writing, [13], [82], [97]
• “Initial series” of glyphs, [24], [92], [93], [136]
• Itzamna, [37], [51]–55, [101], [122], [124]
• Ix chebel yax, [42]
  • chel, [40], [64]
  • hun yé, [43]
  • hun yeta, [43]
  • kan leom, [40]
  • nuc, [43]
  • tabai, [42]
  • tub tun, [42]
• Jade, jewels of, [88]
• Jaguar, the, [72], [126]
• Jupiter, planet, [106]
• Kabah, inscription of, [52], [135]
• Kabil, [38], [51]
• Kak u pacat, [44]
• “Keys” to the hieroglyphs, [16], [17]
• Kin ich, [39], [57], [123], [124]
  • ahau Itzamna, [40]
• Kin sign, the, [88]
• Knife signs, [88], [109]
• Knives, sacrificial, [89]
• Knots, [100]
• Labna, [136]
• Lakin chan, [38], [51]
• Life, symbol of, [49], [115]
  • tree of, [49], [53], [59], [62], [101], [128]
• Lightning, symbols, [71], [74], [89], [104]
• Lorillard City, [29]
• Lunar years, [26]
• Macaw, the, [73]
• Machete, the, [102]
• Maize god, the, [62], [123]
• Mam, the god, [128]
• Man, the first, [46]
  • signs for, [86], [97]
• Mars, planet, [106]
• Masks, use of, [54], [55]
• Mayan, meaning of, [10]
• Medicine drum, [93]
  • rattle, [104]
  • bag, [128]
• Menche, [29]
• Mercury, planet, [106]
• Metals, use of, [104]
• Mexican writing, [10], [79]
• Mimosa, the, [105]
• Mirrors, [104], [105]
• Mitna, [44]
• Mixcoatl, [39]
• Milky Way, the, [35]
• Moan bird, the 74, [125]
• Money, the native, [110]
• Monkey, the, [72]
• Monograms of gods, [121]
• Months, signs for, [88]
• Moon, words for, [36]
  • signs for, [87]
• Mother Earth, sign for, [91], [95], [100]
• Mugeres, Isla de, [42]
• Nagualism, [98]
• Necklace, sign for, [86]
• North Star, the, [34], [57]–59
• Numbers, sacred and symbolic, [24], [25]
• Ococingo, [139]
• Orion, [35]
• Owl, the, [73]
• Pakoc, [44]
• Palæography, Mayan, [127]
• Palenque inscriptions, [13], [16], [21], [54], [62], [95], [136], [137]
• Pelican, the, [74]
• Phallic emblems, [24], [90], [95]
• Picture writing, [98]
• Pleiades, the, [35], [63]
• Pole star, the, [57]–59
• Pottery decoration, [58], [122]
• Ppiz lim tec, [42]
• Priesthood, the, [68]
• Pucugh, [44]
• Quetzal bird, [73]
• Quetzalcoatl, [39]
• Quiches, [44], [140]
• Quirigua, [21]
• Rainbow goddess, [40]
• Rain signs, [91]–94
  • symbols, [72], [74], [75]
• Rattlesnake, the, [75]
• Rays, signs for, [98]
• Rebus writing, [13]
• Rhetorical use of numbers, [24]
• Rubrication of codices, [79]
• Sacred numbers, [25]
• Sastanquiqui, ruins of, [106]
• Saturn, planet, [106]
• Scorpion symbol, [67], [75], [117]
• Serpent eye, the, [84]
  • goddess, the, [63], [124]
  • gods, [38], [124], [128]
  • the feathered, [38], [56], [57]
  • wand, [103]
• Shells, symbolism of, [19], [90]
• Shield, the heavenly, [107]
  • star, the, [58]
• Shields, designs on, [95]
• Shooting stars, [35]
• Smoke, sign for, [97]
• Solstice, symbol of, [74]
• Souls, fate of, [44]
• “Spectacles” sign, [85]
• Speech, sign for, [97], [98]
• Spider-web goddess, [40]
• Sun god, the, [39], [57], [123]
  • signs, [87]
• Tableau des Bacabs, [48], [64]
• Tancucula, [44]
• Tapir, the, [54], [138]
• Tel cuzaan, [42]
• Terrestrial Paradise, [46]
• Textile signs, [96]
• Thirteen, as symbolic, [25]
• Thunder, personified, [63]
• Tikal, [29]
• Time, symbols of, [76], [127], [128]
• Tlaloc, [51], [55]
• Tomahawk, the, [104]
• Tonalamatl, the, [27], [29], [31]
• Tongue, piercing, [76]
• Toniná, [139]
• Tree of life, [48], [53], [59], [62], [101], [128]
• “Trinal” emblem, [95], [136]
• Turkey, the, [74], [90]
• Turtle, the, [74], [119], [126]
• Tzental dialect, [19], [35], [113]
• Tzentals, [37], [38], [113]
• Uac lom chaam, [43]
• Underworld, the, [44]
• Union, signs for, [100]
• Venus, the planet, [33], [34], [106]
  • sign for, [88], [106]
• Vigesimal system, [18]
• Vultures, [73], [125]
• War, gods of, [44], [65], [123]
• Water deities, [40], [41]
• Wind cross, the, [115], [116]
• World-sign, the, [129]
• Writing, direction of, [79]
• Xabalba, [44]
• Xaman ek, the North Star, [57]
• Xibilba, [44]
• Xipe, [66]
• Xiuhmolpilli, the, [31]
• Xnuc, see Ix nuc
• Xmucane, [49], [50], [61], [63], [112], [125]
• Xoc bitum, [42]
• Xpiyacoc, [61]
• Xux Ek, Venus, [60]
• Yax coc ah-mut, [38]
• Yellow, sign for, [88]
• Yucatan, [9], [37], [42], etc.
• Yum chac, [41]
  • cimil, [44]
  • kaax, [41]
• Zac chamay Bac, [44]
• Zac zini, [41]
• Zotzils, [12], [138]
• Zuhuy dzip, [42]
• Zuhuy kak, [42]

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[1]. In accordance with usage in this study, I employ the adjective “Mayan” when speaking of the whole stock, and confine “Maya,” in an adjectival sense, to that branch of the stock resident in Yucatan.

[2]. This is also the opinion of Dr. Seler: “Es ist eine verhältnissmässig geringe Zahl von Bildern und Grundelementen, die in diesen Schriftzeichen wiederkehren.” Verhand. Berliner Anthrop. Gesell., 1887, S. 231.

[3]. “Studies in Central American Picture Writing,” in First An. Rep. of the Bureau of Ethnology, p. 210.

[4]. Among those who have especially merited the thanks of archæologists in collecting material for the study of the monuments are M. Désiré Charnay, Mr. A. P. Maudslay, Prof. F. W. Putnam; and I shall hope to add Dr. Le Plongeon, when he makes public his material.

[5]. The Peresianus has been supposed by some to have been written in Guatemala; by others, both it and the Dresdensis have been considered of Tzental origin. See Pousse, in Arch. de la Soc. Amer., 1885, p. 126, and Paul Perrin, “Les Annotations Européennes du Codex Peresianus,” in the same, June, 1887, p. 87 sqq. Förstemann (Entziff. III.) gives several cogent reasons for believing that the Dresdensis was written in or near Palenque.

[6]. The four Codices can be obtained by placing an order with one of the leading importers of foreign books in New York City. The four cost about one hundred dollars. The study of the German writers is indispensable. The contributions of Dr. Schellhas and Dr. Seler will be found in the numbers of the Berlin Zeitschrift für Ethnologie, 1886 and later. Dr. Förstemann has likewise published in the Zeitschrift, 1891, and also in the Centralblatt für Bibliothekwesen, in which remote quarter some of his most thoughtful contributions have appeared; and in the Proceedings of the International Congress of Americanists. Four of his articles bear the general title, “Zur Entzifferung der Mayahandschriften,” I, II, III, IV. I refer to them by these numbers. The articles of Professor Thomas, Professor Rau, and Mr. Holden are contained in the annual reports of the Bureau of Ethnology, Washington, where they can be readily consulted by American students.

[7]. The essays to which I particularly refer are: “The Phonetic Elements in the Graphic Systems of the Mayas and Mexicans;” “The Ikonomatic Method of Phonetic Writing;” “The Writing and Records of the Ancient Mayas;” and “The Books of Chilan Balam.” All these are reprinted in my Essays of an Americanist, published by Porter & Coates, Philadelphia, 1890. As to how far this or any phonetic system is consistent with the known differences of dialects in the Mayan stock, is a question which space does not permit me to enter upon. I can only say that the signification seems to me to have been fixed in the Maya-Tzental district, and thence carried to the Chortis, Quiches, etc.