In the recent past, a working knowledge of the Maya script has been confined to epigraphers, art historians & other specialists. Its very unfamiliarity to the general public, & the daunting aspect of its Approx. 800 signs, have made the system appear more complex & arcane than it really is. Reading the Maya Glyphs is a compact, portable guide to enable students, tourists & armchair travellers to read & understand commonly encountered Classic Maya texts. Topics covered include the nature of the script, the intricate Maya calendar, dynastic & political texts, & every aspect of the natural & supernatural world in which they lived. Written by the world`s leading authority in Maya studies, Michael D. Coe, & illustrated by the drawings of Mark Van Stone, one of America`s outstanding calligraphers, the book presupposes no previous training in Maya epigraphy or archaeology. Whether in the hands of visitors to the great Maya sites of Mexico & Central America or consulted by museum-goers, this guide should enhance their appreciation some of the world`s greatest art & architecture.