Syllables and words
According to epigraphic studies published by Mexico's INAH, Maya writing combines two kinds of signs: syllabic ones for syllables and logographic ones for whole words. The basic unit is called a glyph.
When and why
It developed mainly during the Classic period, roughly 250 to 900 CE. The texts record names, dates, events and dynastic titles: the Maya's own voice on their history.
The codices
The Maya also wrote in books of amate (fig-bark) paper, which INAH notes were called hu'un. The Dresden Codex is one of three Maya manuscripts of widely accepted authenticity, along with the Madrid and Paris codices. It's made of amate coated with lime, has 39 leaves and stretches about 3.5 meters when unfolded.
The Maya Codex of Mexico, studied by INAH, includes almanacs tied to the phases of Venus.
A reading that keeps improving
Maya epigraphy keeps making discoveries. In 2023, INAH announced a ball game marker at Chichén Itzá with a complete band of hieroglyphic text. Readings can change with new finds, so specialists always cite source and date.
Where to see Maya writing
- On Uxmal's façades and hieroglyphic panels.
- At Chichén Itzá, with inscriptions and reliefs.
- In museums in Mérida and at Chichén Itzá.
From Mérida
To see inscriptions in place, Mary Tours runs guided trips to Chichén Itzá and a transfer to Uxmal from its office on Calle 61 in downtown Mérida. Check schedules and prices in the booking section.
| Codex | Named after |
|---|---|
| Dresden | The German city where it's kept |
| Madrid | The Spanish city where it's kept |
| Paris | The French city where it's kept |
Fun facts
- The Dresden Codex is about 3.5 meters long unfolded.
- The Maya called paper and books hu'un.
- A complete hieroglyphic text was found on a Chichén Itzá marker in 2023.
Related tours
Archaeology · 11 h
Chichén Itzá, Izamal and Valladolid
Four stops in one day, and none of them rushed
from $1,200 MXN per person
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8:00 AM – 8:00 PM · daily
- 8:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour on the road to Izamal. The guide uses the drive to set up what comes next.
- 9:00 AM San Antonio de Padua Convent — The story of the 16th-century Franciscan convent told in its atrium, then free time to walk the yellow town.
- 11:15 AM Chichén Itzá — Guided walk through the Temple of Kukulkán, the Sacred Cenote, the Ball Court, the Tzompantli and the Jaguars and Eagles platform.
- 1:45 PM Regional lunch in Kaua — Buffet of Yucatecan dishes: cochinita, relleno negro, lime soup and meat-free options.
- 3:00 PM Selva Maya cenote — The swim lands exactly when the sun is at its worst. Changing rooms and showers on site.
- 4:20 PM Valladolid — Francisco Cantón Rosado park with its original railings, the church of San Servacio and the murals in the town hall.
- 8:00 PM Back in Mérida — We drop you off where the day started.
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Maya Train, Chichén Itzá and Izamal
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from $1,600 MXN per person
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8:00 AM – 7:00 PM · daily
- 8:00 AM Transfer to the station — From the office to the Maya Train station in Mérida.
- 9:18 AM Maya Train ride — Forty minutes from Mérida to Izamal. Ticket included.
- 10:15 AM Izamal — The yellow town, the three-tier Baroque altarpiece and free time on the main square.
- 12:30 PM Chichén Itzá — Guided walk through the Sacred Cenote, the Temple of Kukulkán, the Jaguars and Eagles platform and the Ball Court.
- 2:30 PM Lunch in Kaua — Buffet of typical regional dishes.
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Coupon −$300 MXN per personCaribbean · 14 h
Tulum and the Casa Tortuga cenotes
The only Maya city built facing the Caribbean
from $2,500 MXN per person
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6:00 AM – 8:00 PM · daily
- 6:00 AM Boarding — We leave from the downtown office. If your accommodation is on the way, we collect you there — agreed beforehand on WhatsApp.
- 6:30 AM Motorway to the rest stop — An hour and three quarters, with fifteen minutes for toilets and something light.
- 8:30 AM On to Tulum — An hour and a half more to the Quintana Roo coast.
- 10:00 AM Tulum archaeological site — Guided visit to the walled city: El Castillo, the Temple of the Frescoes and the Temple of the Descending God, with the sea behind.
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Included: Guide accredited by the Ministry of Tourism, Round-trip transport, Lunch, Cenote entry
Not included: Tulum archaeological site entrance, Drinks
Frequently asked questions
How did the Maya write?
With glyphs combining syllabic and logographic signs.
What did their texts record?
Names, dates, events and dynastic titles.
How many Maya codices survive?
Three of widely accepted authenticity: Dresden, Madrid and Paris.
Can Maya writing be read today?
Largely yes, and readings keep improving with new finds.
