Maya hieroglyphs without tears

Maya Hieroglyphs Without Tears was published in 1972 by the British Museum as an introductory manual to the decipherment of Maya writing. Authored by the prominent Mayanist J. Eric S. Thompson, the book reflects a specific period in the study of Mesoamerican scripts, emerging at a time when the field was transitioning toward modern phonetic understandings. Thompson, known for his vast contributions to the discipline, wrote this guide to provide a structured, accessible entry point for students and enthusiasts attempting to navigate the complexities of ancient glyphic blocks.

The design of the volume is functional and instructional, featuring meticulous hand-drawn illustrations and diagrams that break down glyphic components for the reader. Thompson’s objective was to demystify a system of writing that had long been considered largely undecipherable or purely ideographic. While later archaeological breakthroughs have updated many of the interpretations found within the text, it remains a significant pedagogical artifact from a central figure in 20th-century archaeology.