[Aztlan] Reversed Glyphs

[Sam Edgerton]

Listeros:  The most well known, if not the most unusual example of 
"reversed glyphs" on Classic Maya monuments is of course the inscription 
running across the top of Lintel 25, the centermost of the three adjoining 
lintels once above the entrance to Temple 23, Yaxchilan. It has often been 
argued that the reason for this peculiar presentation was that it was 
intended to be read from straight above; that is, by divine eyes in the sky 
who presumably could see through stone.  Whether or not this is the true 
interpretation, it's worth mentioning that in other deeply religious 
societies, even our own medieval Christian, similar reversed inscriptions 
can be found that certainly were meant to be read from a viewpoint within 
sacred virtual space. See for instance the lovely small painting of the 
"Annunciation" by Jan Van Eyck, ca, 1430, now in the National Gallery, 
Washington DC, where the Angel Gabriel is depicted speaking the Latin words 
"Ave Gratia Plena," issuing in correct left-to-right order from his mouth, 
while the Virgin's famous response, "Ecce Ancilla Dei," is not only written 
in reverse word order but upside down because it was intended for God, who 
would be looking at  the picture from heaven; that is through it from both 
above and behind.
Sam Edgerton