A Phonetic Version of the Maya Glyph for North

Abstract

The symbolic variant of the Maya glyph for north is claimed to be a phonetic construction xa-ma-n(a) generating the Yucatec term xaman, "north." The reading supports the notion that Maya directional symbolism was related to the horizon and disagrees with recent revisionist theory that such symbolism was related to the path of the sun across the sky and through the underworld.

Zenith and Nadir Passages of the Sun in Mesoamerica

“…It has also been argued that the Maya directional glyphs identified previously with north and south in fact refer to zenith and nadir, respectively (Bricker 1983;1988;Stross 1991). In the light of advances in epigraphic research, however, it is now rather clear that these glyphs can be read phonetically as north and south (Lounsbury 1984, 179-180;Closs 1988a;1988b;Justeson 1989, 119, 126 note 41;Hopkins and Josserand 2001). Aside from the terms for north and south, special words for zenith and nadir are reported in colonial Yucatec Maya dictionaries, and it has been argued that they had their Classic-period glyphic counterparts (Justeson 1989, 119, 126, note 41); it may be noted, however, that these terms refer to the centres of the earth and the sky, but not explicitly to the Sun's corresponding positions.…”

Placing the Centre, Centring the Place: the Influence of Formative Sacbeob in Classic Site Design at Yaxuná, Yucatán

“…We argue that the tombs were intentionally placed at the north end of the axis for several reasons. First, by the Classic Period, the direction north had become associated with ancestors (Ashmore 1988;Bricker 1988;Closs 1988;Coggins 1980;Freidel et al 1993). Further, Ashmore & Sabloff (2000) suggest that the north-south axis was particularly associated with kings and dynasties as these came into special prominence in the Classic period.…”

“…This theme becomes especially relevant once we establish the linkage between the Yaxuná causeways and the cosmic axis, as the two Early Classic royal tombs we could document were in the North Acropolis at the end of the main causeway. Of course, north is associated with ancestors (Ashmore 1988;Bricker 1988;Closs 1988;Coggins 1980;Freidel et al 1993), but the link to the sacbe strengthens the civic plan's function as a connecting device, such as a psychoduct or umbilical cord, between the dead (Structure 6F-3) and the living (the 5E-52 Group). We believe Sacbe 3 served as a metaphor for the cosmic axis, but also played an important function in keep-ing the line of soul force and blood open between the ancestors at the North Acropolis and the family living at the southern end of the axis.…”