The Dresden Maya Codex

The Dresden Codex is one of the oldest and most complete pre-Columbian Mayan manuscripts known. This 78-page book, written over 1,000 years ago, will take you on an unparalleled journey through Mayan culture and religion.

This codex, written in a combination of hieroglyphics and drawings, is believed to have been created around the 11th century and was used to record Mayan astronomical and religious knowledge. It includes information on lunar and solar cycles, astrology, and the ceremony of human sacrifice.

In addition, the codex also contains information about mythology and the creation of the universe according to Mayan culture, as well as details about agriculture, fishing, and other aspects of daily life.

This book has been the subject of great interest among historians and archaeologists, as it provides a fascinating window into Mayan culture and their complex belief system. Due to its age and historical and cultural value, the Dresden Codex is considered a priceless piece of world heritage.

It is one of only four preserved Mayan codices in the world. It is said to be the most complete and unique.

Why is it called the Dresden Codex?

It takes its name from the location of its collection, in the library of the German city of Dresden, but this manuscript was written by the Mayans before the Spanish colonization of the Americas, apparently in the 11th or 12th century. It is also believed that at least part of the manuscript is a copy of an older one, as two types of signs from different periods are used.

How was it done?

It was made from crushed ficus bark and covered with a lime paste. It was written by up to six different scribes. Of the 78 pages, 39 are written on both sides and are over 3.5 meters long, originally folded accordion-style. Each sheet measures 20.5 cm high and 10 cm wide. The pages are framed by red lines. The Codex depicts numbers, hieroglyphics, and figures. Thanks to this spectacular manuscript, it has been possible to decipher some of the symbols of Mayan writing. So far, 250 of the 350 symbols have been deciphered. Its astronomical tables are highly accurate, and it is famous for its lunar series and Venus table. It also contains almanacs and ritual schedules. The images are of high quality, painted with fine brushes and colors extracted from plants.

History. The Codex in Time.

Regarding its passage through the centuries, it is said that the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortes sent it to Charles I, among other treasures. The King took it to Vienna, where he had one of his residences. It is known that in 1739, a person who owned it in his private collection gave it to Johann Christian Goetze, director of the Royal Library of Saxony in Dresden at the time, who donated it to the Library.

Unfortunately, the Codex was partially damaged during World War II. The damage was caused by water used to extinguish fires during the bombing of Dresden, which seeped into the metal box where it was kept, but fortunately, it was not destroyed. It is currently the only Mayan Codex on public display, in the Treasure Chamber (with armored steel walls and a steel door with gilded reliefs) of the Dresden State Library (Germany).

Chapters of the Codex.

The Codex consists of 10 chapters: 1 - Introduction (presentation of the 20 most important gods, sacrifices, etc.); 2 - Almanacs of the gods, diseases, cures, etc. 3 - Table of Venus; 4 - Table of solar and lunar eclipses; 5 - Table of multiplication by the number 78 (the reason for using this number is unknown); 6 - Table of K'atun (20-year period used to calculate times of droughts and earthquakes); 7 - Numbers of serpents and pillars of the universe (the same words are used as in the inscriptions of the Classic period in the Mayan cities of Palenque and Tikal); 8 - The Great Flood (representation of a disaster); 9 - Ceremonies of the beginning of the new year and 10 - Almanac for agriculture.