The man who read the Maya – Level 1

Yuri Knorozov was a scientist from the Soviet Union who loved studying old writings. During World War II, in Berlin, he found copies of three old Maya books called codices and took them back to Moscow. Later, he also studied a Spanish book from 1566 that tried to explain Maya writing, but it made many mistakes. Yuri wondered how people who were so good at math and astronomy could have a “bad” writing system, so he decided to prove that the Maya writing could be read.

Yuri used math to study the symbols, counting how often each one appeared and where it was placed in the words. He discovered that some symbols stood for whole words and others stood for sounds, like parts of words, which helped him start to read the messages on stones and in books. At first, many experts did not believe him, but in 1973, other scientists used his ideas and were able to read the names of Maya kings, showing that Yuri was right. Many years later, he visited Mexico and the Maya ruins and was celebrated as a hero for giving a “voice” back to the ancient Maya.

Bridging words

These words sound similar in English and Spanish: Why not practice them now?

 Time to discuss

• Why is it important to be able to read what ancient people wrote?
• Do you think one person can change what everyone believes about history?
• Why should we listen to new ideas, even if they come from faraway places?

Let's write

Answer the following questions in one paragraph:

• Imagine you discovered a secret code; write how you would try to solve it.
• Write about why Yuri Knorozov’s work was important for the Maya people.