Directional Glyphs in Maya Inscriptions and Codices

Abstract

A phonetic and semantic interpretation of the directional glyphs in Maya inscriptions and codices reveals that they did not refer to the cardinal directions. The glyphs that have been identified previously with north and south can be read phonetically as zenith and nadir, respectively. The glyphs for east and west refer semantically to the rising and setting sun. These data support Clemency Coggins's recent suggestion that Classic Maya directional symbolism was related to the path of the sun across the sky and through the underworld, rather than to the cardinal directions.