References & Resources

Hundreds of articles, books, and book chapters have been written about the Maya codices, beginning as early as the 1880s. The list below contains a representative sample, but it is by no means complete. Except for the sources listed under “General Resources,” most of the references cited were written for an audience with specialized training in Maya archaeology or epigraphy.

General Resources

  • Coe 1999a (hieroglyphic writing)
  • Coe 1999b (Maya archaeology and history)
  • Coe and Kerr 1997 (Maya scribes and their art)
  • Coe and Van Stone 2001 (hieroglyphic writing)
  • Davoust 1995 (hieroglyphic writing [published in French])
  • Fash 1991 (Maya site of Copan)
  • Houston et al. 2001 (hieroglyphic writing)
  • Martin and Grube 2000 (Maya history)
  • M. Miller 1999 (Maya art and architecture)
  • M. Miller and Taube 1993 (Maya gods and symbols)
  • Montgomery 2002 (hieroglyphic writing)
  • Reents-Budet 1994 (Maya pottery)
  • Sharer 1994 (Maya archaeology and history)
  • Sosa 1989 (Yucatec religion and cosmology)
  • Taube 1993 (Aztec and Maya mythology)
  • D. Tedlock 1996 (Popol Vuh)
  • Tozzer 1941 (Yucatec Maya society and religion)

    Links

    For scans of facsimiles of the Maya codices see FAMSI's web site: www.famsi.org/mayawriting/codices/

  • Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies Inc.
  • Mesoamerican Photo Archives
  • Mesoweb
  • Middle American Research Institute
  • Precolumbian Art Research Institute

    Madrid Codex

    Analysis of Madrid Almanacs

  • Aveni 2004 (M. 10a-13a, D. 38b-41b)
  • Aveni et al. 1996 (cognate almanacs in Dresden and Madrid codices)
  • Bill 1997 (M. 49-56; 79a-84a)
  • Bill et al. 2000 (M. 52-55; 84c-88c)
  • H. Bricker et al. 1997 (M. 10b-18b)
  • V. Bricker 1997a (“Calendar Round” almanac on M. 65-73b)
  • V. Bricker 1998 (planting almanacs on M. 24-29)
  • V. Bricker and Bill 1994 (M. 52-55; 101a-102a)
  • V. Bricker and H. Bricker 1988 (M. 10bc-11bc)
  • Ciaramella 1999 (weaving almanacs)
  • Ciaramella 2002 (beekeeping almanacs)
  • Ciaramella 2004 (idol-making almanacs)
  • Graff 1997 (M. 57-64)
  • Graff and Vail 2001 (M. 39bc)
  • Hatch 1975 (M. 12-18)
  • Hernández and V. Bricker 2004 (M. 24-38)
  • Jones and Jones 1997 (weaving almanacs)
  • Jüngel 1999 (M. 29b, 29d)
  • Just 2000 (M. 12b-18b)
  • Milbrath 1980 (M. 12b-18b)
  • Milbrath 1981 (M. 12b-18b)
  • Milbrath 1999 (M. 2a;12b-18b; 19b; 49c-50c)
  • Paxton 1997 (M. 75-78)
  • Paxton 2000 (M. 10b-11b)
  • Paxton 2001 (M. 75-78)
  • Pohl 1981 (deer almanacs)
  • Porter 1997 (M. 39bc)
  • Seler 1902-23, Vol. I (“idol”-making almanacs [published in German])
  • Seler 1906 (cognate almanacs in Dresden and Madrid codices [published in German])
  • Seler 1990-2000, Vol. I (“idol”-making almanacs [English translation of 1902-23])
  • Sotelo Santos 1998b (cognate almanacs in Dresden and Madrid codices)
  • Taack 1973 (deer almanacs)
  • Thies 1979 (M. 75-78)
  • Thomas 1884c (M. 75-76)
  • Thomas 1882 (M. 34-37 and others in the Troano section of the codex)
  • Thompson 1958 (omen and burden almanacs)
  • Vail 1994 (beekeeping almanacs)
  • Vail 1997a (deer trapping almanacs)
  • Vail 2000a (M. 16a-17a, 19b, 23c and “idol”-making almanacs)
  • Vail and V. Bricker 2004 (M. 34-37; 65-73b)
  • von Nagy 1997 (deer hunting almanacs)
  • Wulfing 1994 (M. 12b-18b)

    Facsimilies of the Madrid Codex

  • Anders 1967 (color photographic reproduction of Madrid Codex)
  • Brasseur de Bourbourg 1869-70 (lithographic reproduction of Troano manuscript)
  • Códice Tro-Cortesiano 1991 (photographic and interpretive reproduction of the Madrid Codex based on a close examination of the original)
  • Gates 1933 (black-and-white photographic reproduction of Madrid Codex)
  • Junta de Relaciones Culturales 1930 (facsimile of Troano manuscript with color added manually to black-and-white photographs)
  • Lee 1985 (color photographic reproduction of the four Maya codices)
  • Libería Echániz 1939 (facsimile of Troano manuscript based on Brasseur de Bourbourg 1869-70)
  • Libería Echániz 1949 (Cortesianus manuscript)
  • Rada y Delgado and López de Ayala y del Hierro 1892 (Cortesianus manuscript)
  • de Rosny 1883 (black-and-white photographic reproduction of Cortesianus manuscript)
  • Villacorta C. and Villacorta 1976 (line drawings of Madrid, Dresden, and Paris codices)

    Commentaries and Analyses of Madrid Codex

  • Ciudad Ruíz 2000 (scribal techniques)
  • Ciudad Ruíz and Lacadena 1998 (Madrid Codex within Maya hieroglyphic tradition)
  • Escalante 1992 (general commentary)
  • Förstemann 1902 (general commentary [published in German])
  • Förstemann 1903b (general commentary [published in German])
  • Graff 2000 (discussion of material culture)
  • Lacadena 1995 (paleographic analysis of glyphic texts)
  • Lacadena 1997 (discussion of Yucatec and Ch’olan vocabulary and morphology in codex)
  • Lacadena 2000 (paleographic analysis of glyphic texts)
  • Marhenke 1997 (discussion of Latin text on M. 56)
  • Rivera Dorado 1991 (general commentary)
  • de Rosny 1881
  • Sanz Castro 2000 (analysis of scribal hands involved in drafting iconography)
  • Tozzer and Allen 1910 (identification of animals in codex)
  • Vail 2000b (discussion of Yucatec and Ch’olan vocabulary and morphology in codex)
  • Villacorta C. and Villacorta 1976 (general commentary)

    Provenience and Dating of Madrid Codex

  • H. Bricker 2004 (M. 56)
  • Chuchiak 2004 (M. 56)
  • Coe and Kerr 1997 (M. 56)
  • Graff 1997 (material culture)
  • Graff 2000 (material culture)
  • Graff and Vail 2001 (material culture and M. 39bc)
  • Paxton 2004 (iconographic content)
  • Porter 1997 (M. 39bc)
  • Schuster 1999 (controversy re. dating)
  • Vail and Aveni 2004b (overview discussion)
  • Vail et al. 2003 (M. 56)

    Maya Codices

    Analysis of Glyphic Texts

  • Davoust 1997 (Dresden Codex [published in French])
  • Fox and Justeson 1984 (select almanacs in Dresden and Madrid codices)
  • Grube 1990 (“tz'ap” expression in Maya codices)
  • Grube and Nahm 1990 (/mi/ hieroglyph in Maya codices)
  • Hofling 1989 (“Moon Goddess” almanacs on D. 16-23)
  • Jones 1992 (“axe” hieroglyph in Madrid Codex)
  • Kelley 1976 (select almanacs in Dresden and Madrid codices)
  • Knorozov 1982 (Madrid, Dresden, and Paris codices)
  • Lounsbury 1984 (/na/ hieroglyph in Maya codices)
  • Ringle 1988 (T1016c “k’uh” hieroglyph in Maya codices)
  • Schele and Grube 1997 (Dresden Codex)
  • Vail 1996 (deity appellatives and attributives)

    Astronomy

  • Aveni 2001 (overview; general discussion)
  • H. Bricker et al. 2001 (Mars)
  • H. Bricker and V. Bricker 1983 (Dresden eclipse table)
  • H. Bricker and V. Bricker 1992 (Paris zodiac)
  • H. Bricker and V. Bricker 1997 (Dresden Mars table)
  • V. Bricker and H. Bricker 1986a (D. 38b-41b)
  • V. Bricker and H. Bricker 1986b (Dresden Mars table)
  • V. Bricker and H. Bricker 1988 (Dresden seasonal table)
  • V. Bricker and H. Bricker 1998 (general discussion)
  • Carlson 1983 (Grolier Venus almanac)
  • Closs 1977 (Dresden Venus table)
  • Closs 1979 (Venus)
  • Closs 1981 (Venus)
  • Closs 1992 (Venus)
  • Closs 1994 (Venus)
  • Justeson 1989 (overview)
  • Lounsbury 1983 (Dresden Venus table)
  • Lounsbury 1992a (calendar correlation)
  • Lounsbury 1992b (Dresden Venus table)
  • Love 1995 (Dresden Mars table)
  • Milbrath 1999 (overview; general discussion)
  • Thompson 1972 (Dresden astronomical tables)

    Calendrical Structure of Maya Almanacs

  • Aveni et al. 1995 (interval structure of Dresden and Madrid)
  • Aveni et al. 1996 (interval structure of Dresden and Madrid)
  • V. Bricker 1997b (general discussion)
  • V. Bricker and H. Bricker 1992 (methodology for cross-dating almanacs with astronomical tables)
  • Just 2000 (in-extenso almanacs in Madrid)
  • Vail 2002 (haab’ model for interpreting Maya almanacs)
  • Vail 2004 (haab’ model for interpreting Maya almanacs)
  • Vail and Aveni 2004a (general discussion)

    Deities

  • Bill 1997 (God M and black deity complex)
  • Brisko 1994 (goddesses)
  • Ciaramella 1994 (goddesses)
  • Closs 1979 (black deity complex)
  • Coe 1989 (Gods CH and S [Hero Twins])
  • Kocyba 1989 (Itzamna and Chak Chel)
  • Milbrath 1995 (goddesses)
  • Milbrath 1996 (goddesses)
  • Milbrath 1999 (goddesses; Chaak)
  • Paxton 2001:Appendix A (goddesses)
  • Pickands 1980 (God Y)
  • Ringle 1988 (God C)
  • Robicsek 1979 (God K)
  • Schellhas 1904 (classification and general discussion)
  • Seler 1902-23 (various)
  • Seler 1990-2000 (various)
  • Sotelo Santos 1989 (God A)
  • Sotelo Santos 1993 (God C)
  • Sotelo Santos 1998a (deities in Madrid Codex)
  • Taube 1987 (Principal Bird Deity)
  • Taube 1989a (caiman/earth monster)
  • Taube 1989b (God N/Pawahtun)
  • Taube 1992 (general discussion)
  • Taube and Bade 1991 (Dresden Venus deities)
  • Thompson 1939 (goddesses)
  • Thompson 1966 (God M)
  • Thompson 1970a (Bacabs)
  • Thompson 1970b (general discussion)
  • Vail 1996 (deities in Madrid Codex)
  • Vail 1997b (Pawahtuns)
  • Vail 1998 (Kisin)
  • Vail 2000c (general discussion)
  • Vail and Stone 2002 (goddesses)
  • Whittaker 1986 (Dresden Venus deities)

    Ritual Almanacs and Texts

  • Bill 1997 (yearbearer and haab’ ceremonies)
  • Bill et al. 2000 (yearbearer ceremonies)
  • V. Bricker 1989 (yearbearer ceremonies)
  • V. Bricker 1991 (rain-making ceremony)
  • V. Bricker and Bill 1994 (yearbearer ceremonies)
  • Joralemon 1974 (bloodletting rituals)
  • Love 1989 (ritual breads)
  • Love 1991 (Dresden yearbearer ceremonies)
  • Pohl 1981 (rituals involving deer)
  • Taube 1988 (yearbearer ceremonies)
  • Vail 1989 (yearbearer, rain-making, and “idol”-making ceremonies)
  • Vail 2000a (haab’ ceremonies)
  • Vail 2002 (haab’ ceremonies)
  • Vail 2004 (haab’ ceremonies)

    Dresden Codex

  • Aveni et al. 1996 (cognate almanacs in the Dresden and Madrid codices)
  • V. Bricker and H. Bricker 1992 (almanacs with astronomical and seasonal references)
  • Ciaramella 1999 (weaving almanacs)
  • Davoust 1997 (commentary of complete codex [published in French])
  • Förstemann 1901 (commentary of complete codex [published in German])
  • Förstemann 1906 (commentary of complete codex)
  • Hofling 1988 (D. 4-12)
  • Hofling and O’Neil 1992 (“Moon Goddess” almanacs on D. 16-23)
  • Love 1991 (Dresden yearbearer pages)
  • Paxton 1986 (material culture)
  • Paxton 1991 (material culture)
  • Schele and Grube 1997 (hieroglyphic texts)
  • Seler 1906 (cognate almanacs in the Dresden and Madrid codices [published in German])
  • Seler 1990-2000, Vol. I (Dresden yearbearer pages)
  • Taube and Bade 1991 (Dresden Venus deities)
  • Thompson 1958 (omen and burden almanacs)
  • Thompson 1972 (commentary of complete codex)
  • Tozzer and Allen 1910 (identification of animals)
  • Wald 2004 (presence of Yucatec and Ch’olan vocabulary and morphology in hieroglyphic texts)
  • Whittaker 1986 (Dresden Venus deities)

    For additional sources on the Dresden Codex, see Maya Codices: Astronomy.

    Grolier Codex

  • Baudez 2002 (question of authenticity)
  • Carlson 1983 (commentary)
  • Coe 1973 (color photographic facsimile and brief commentary)
  • Milbrath 2002 (question of authenticity)
  • Thompson 1975 (question of authenticity)

    Paris Codex

  • H. Bricker and V. Bricker 1992 (zodiacal almanac on P. 23-24)
  • Förstemann 1903a (commentary [published in German])
  • Johnson and Quenon 1994 (zodiacal table on P. 23-24)
  • Love 1994 (commentary)
  • Paxton 1992 (k’atun pages on P. 2-11; Paris zodiacal almanac on P. 23-24)
  • Severin 1981 (zodiacal almanac on P. 23-24)
  • Treiber 1987 (k’atun pages on P. 2-11)
  • Villela and Schele 1996 (zodiacal almanac on P. 23-24)

    Copyright (c) 2002-2005 by Gabrielle Vail.  All Rights Reserved