Writing and Civilization: From Ancient Worlds to Modernity Season 1 Episode 20 Aztec Hieroglyphs--A Recent Decipherment

Writing and Civilization: From Ancient Worlds to Modernity is a documentary series that explores the origins and development of writing systems across civilizations. In the season 1 episode 20 titled "Aztec Hieroglyphs--A Recent Decipherment," the show delves into the history of the Aztec civilization and the recent advancements in understanding their hieroglyphic writing system.

The Aztecs were known for their sophisticated civilization in Mesoamerica, which flourished in the 14th to 16th centuries. However, their writing system remained a mystery for a long time, as the conquistadors who invaded the Aztec empire destroyed many of their written materials. The Aztecs used phonetic symbols, logograms, and ideograms to represent their language, which was Nahuatl, a language still spoken by over a million people today.

In this episode, experts in Mesoamerican studies discuss how the decipherment of Aztec hieroglyphs has evolved over the years, starting from the first attempts in the 19th century to recent breakthroughs using computer technology. The Aztecs used various media to write their texts, including ceramics, stone, and bark paper. The researchers explain how each medium has its challenges when it comes to decoding the texts, as the glyphs were often eroded, fragmented, or damaged due to the passing of time.

The episode also features several Aztec artifacts with hieroglyphic inscriptions, including the famous Aztec Calendar Stone, which is a circular rock carving with intricate symbols that represent the Aztecs' understanding of time and astronomy. The experts explain how the Aztec writing system was not only used for communication and record-keeping but also for religious and mythological purposes. The Aztecs believed that their gods communicated with them through their writing, and thus writing was a sacred activity.

One of the highlights of the episode is the discussion of the discovery of a Codex that sheds new light on the Aztec culture and ideology. The Codex, found in the 1970s, is the first complete Aztec book that survived the Spanish conquest, and it contains detailed illustrations and glyphic texts that describe the Aztec mythology and worldview. The experts explain how the study of this Codex has helped to decipher more Aztec glyphs and to gain a better understanding of their language and culture.

The episode also features interviews with scholars who have contributed to the decipherment of Aztec hieroglyphs, including Michael Coe, a prominent Mesoamerican archaeologist, and John Justeson, a linguist who used computer algorithms to decode the Aztec texts. The researchers discuss the controversies surrounding the decipherment, such as the varying interpretations of some glyphs and the debates on the pronunciation of Nahuatl words.

Overall, "Aztec Hieroglyphs--A Recent Decipherment" is an informative and fascinating episode that showcases the complexities of studying ancient writing systems and the excitement of discovering new insights into the past. It highlights the importance of preserving and studying the cultural heritage of indigenous peoples, such as the Aztecs, who have contributed to human civilization in significant ways.