A NOVA production, this is a solid look at deciphering the Maya language with history about the process as well as the Mayan’s themselves. The documentary also serves as a very good primer on the language explaining how hieroglyphs are structured and interact with each other.
Dr. Michael Coe, Ian Graham, Dr. Nikolai Grube, Peter Mathews, CCH Pounder (Narrator)
I found the graphical demonstrations of glyph construction especially helpful in understanding the language. The highlighting and shading of different glyph components and how they impacted the overall message along with video notations and audio explanations was a great way to try and explain basics of the language. The addition of period relevant history also helped to put glyphs in context.
Camera work and video were very good with excellent shots of ruins and temples, giving the viewer a good understanding of the settings in which ruins are located and the quality of glyphs being examined. Thankfully this documentary tries to stay with commonly accepted theories rather than exploring the end of the world and the Maya calendar, or entertaining theories about aliens.
The complexity of the Maya language was particularly impressive and it was very interesting to learn how deciphering the language has changed our understanding of the people. I was also happy to hear that the language is again being taught so that it may exist and be used again.
Nothing here to limit audience age.
Released: 2008
Reviewed: 12.5.18
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Documentary, Mystery
copyright ©2018 Dave Riedel
Dr. Michael Coe, Ian Graham, Dr. Nikolai Grube, Peter Mathews, CCH Pounder (Narrator)
I found the graphical demonstrations of glyph construction especially helpful in understanding the language. The highlighting and shading of different glyph components and how they impacted the overall message along with video notations and audio explanations was a great way to try and explain basics of the language. The addition of period relevant history also helped to put glyphs in context.
Camera work and video were very good with excellent shots of ruins and temples, giving the viewer a good understanding of the settings in which ruins are located and the quality of glyphs being examined. Thankfully this documentary tries to stay with commonly accepted theories rather than exploring the end of the world and the Maya calendar, or entertaining theories about aliens.
The complexity of the Maya language was particularly impressive and it was very interesting to learn how deciphering the language has changed our understanding of the people. I was also happy to hear that the language is again being taught so that it may exist and be used again.
Nothing here to limit audience age.
Released: 2008
Reviewed: 12.5.18
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Documentary, Mystery
copyright ©2018 Dave Riedel
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