Maya codices

Maya codices (singular codex) are books written by the pre-Columbian Maya civilization, using the Maya hieroglyphic script. There were many such books in existence at the time of the Spanish conquest of Yucatán in the 16th century, but they were destroyed in bulk by the Conquistadors and priests soon after. In particular, all those in Yucatán were ordered destroyed by Bishop Diego de Landa in July of 1562.

Related Topics:
Codex - Book - Pre-Columbian - Maya civilization - Maya hieroglyphic script - Spanish conquest of Yucatán - 16th century - Conquistador - Priests - Yucatán - Bishop Diego de Landa - 1562

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Such codices were primary written records of Maya civilization, together with the many inscriptions on stone monuments and stelae which survive to the present day. However, their range of subject matter in all likelyhood differed significantly from the topics which were recorded in stone and buildings, and with their destruction the opportunity for insight into some key areas of Maya life has been lost.

Related Topics:
Inscription - Monument - Stela

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Only three codices and a fragment of a fourth survived to modern times. These are:

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• The Madrid Codex, also known as the Tro-Cortesianus Codex;
• The Dresden Codex;
• The Paris Codex, also known as the Peresianus Codex;
• The Grolier Codex, also known as the Grolier Fragment.
 
Maya codices: Dresden Codex ►