Ancient Maya calligraphy, the subject of exciting breakthroughs in decipherment, is revealed here to be among the finest and most beautiful in the world. This richly illustrated volume by two renowned experts is the first to make full use of the latest research and the first to explore the privileged lives of the Maya scribes and their distinctive artistic achievements.Michael D. Coe vividly portrays the world of the artist-calligraphers, who were both men and women. He decodes their depiction in Maya art and describes the mediums in which they worked, their tools, and techniques. Their masterpieces, painted or carved on stone, stucco, wood, shell, bone, in screenfold books, and on magnificent ceramic vessels, are reproduced in superb photographs, many taken by Justin Kerr with his innovative rollout camera that captures images from cylindrical surfaces with perfect clarity.