'Dawning of a new day'; Maya Hieroglyphic Writing - J.E.S. Thompson (1960) A Catalog of Maya Hieroglyphs
by J. Eric S. Thompson

Copyright © 1962 University of Oklahoma Press.
All rights reserved.
 

The year 1962 saw the publication of a major new book in Maya studies from the University of Oklahoma Press: J. Eric S. Thompson's A Catalog of Maya Hieroglyphs. Thompson's Catalog represented just what it said: it was a catalogue of most of the glyphs known up to the time of its publication. Especially over the couple of decades after its publication it was a critical tool, for in that period few signs could be read with any certainty. With Thompson's Catalog it was easier to refer to a sign as "T110" rather than to something like "that squished sign with the ends marked off and parallel lines along the middle".

Thompson's Catalog is considerably more useful than other Maya sign catalogues that have been produced. It is the most complete catalogue that has been compiled, and includes glyphs from both the codices and the monuments. It is reasonably good on the identification of individual, distinct signs. And, Thompson's Catalog has a numbering system that allows for expansion as new signs are identified.

Thompson's Catalog is currently unavailable from the University of Oklahoma Press. Therefore, FAMSI is especially pleased to have been granted permission to include Thompson's numbered drawings in our online Maya Hieroglyphic Dictionary.

Thompson's numbered drawings of individual glyphs

Click on any link below to view a specific page of Thompson's drawings.

Affixes 1-44
Affixes 45-91
Affixes 92-140
Affixes 141-190
Affixes 191-240
Affixes 241-302
Affixes 303-370
Main Signs 501-570
Main Signs 571-642
Main Signs 643-718
Main Signs 719-781
Main Signs 782-856
Portraits 1000a-1030m
Portraits 1030n-1087

A more detailed, higher resolution of the drawings exists in a PDF file. Click on the link below to download the PDF file.

Please note that any use of Thompson's drawings is limited to scholarly research. Any additional use, including but not limited to their use in other scholarly publications, journals, etc. and/or course packs, whether in print, electronic, and/or digital format, is prohibited without further permission by the University of Oklahoma Press.

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Thompson's Catalog of Maya Hieroglyphs

Suggested Reading from the University of Oklahoma Press

The suggested reading volumes and order information can be found at University of Oklahoma Press or click on any of the links below to go directly to the University of Oklahoma Press's order page for the specified volume.

Amphibians and Reptiles of Northern Guatemala, the Yucatan, and Belize
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Bernardino De Sahagun
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Biologia Centrali-Americana
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Codex Chimalpahin, Vol. 1
Chimalpahin Quauhtlehuanitzin, Domingo de San Anton Munon

Codex Chimalpahin, Vol. 2
Chimalpahin Quauhtlehuanitzin, Domingo de San Anton Munon

Conquest of America, The
Todorov, Tzvetan

Corn is Our Blood
Sandstrom, Alan R.

Covenants with Earth and Rain, The
Monaghan, John

Four Creations
Gossen, Gary H

Guide to Ancient Maya Ruins, 2nd ed.
Hunter, C. Bruce

Guide to the Historical Geography of New Spain, rev. ed.
Gerhard, Peter A.

Harvest of Violence
Carmack, Robert M.

Historical Atlas of Central America
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History of the Indies of New Spain, The
Duran, Fray Diego

In Place of Gods and Kings
Stone, Cynthia L.

Indian Clothing Before Cortes
Anawalt, Patricia Rieff

Introduction to Classical Nahuatl
Andrews, J. Richard

Maya Archaeologist
Thompson, J.

Mesoamerican Elites
Chase, Arlen F. and Chase, Diane Z.

Mexico's Indigenous Past
Austin, Alfredo Lopez and Lujan, Leonardo Lopez

Myths of Ancient Mexico
Graulich, Michel

Popol Vuh
Recinos, Adrien

Pre-Columbian Art
Pang, Hilda Delgado

Pre-Columbian Literatures of Mexico
Leon-Portilla, Miguel

Prehistoric Mesoamerica, rev. ed.
Adams, Richard E. W.

Primeros Memoriales, Part 1
Sahagun, Fray Bernardino de

Rio Azul
Adams, Richard E. W.

Rubbings of Maya Sculpture
Robertson, Merle Greene

Tatiana Proskouriakoff
Solomon, Char

Tenochca Empire of Ancient Mexico, The
Carrasco, Pedro

The New Catalog of Maya Hieroglyphs
Looper, Matthew G. and Macri, Martha J.

Transcending Conquest
Wood, Stephanie

Treatise on the Heathen Superstitions That Today Live Among the Indians Native to this New Spain
Ruiz de Alarcon, Hernando

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