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Codex Laud (Codex Mictlan): Toltec pictorial sacred book (teoamoxtli)

MS. Laud Misc. 678

Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford

Details

This item is described in 2 online catalogues.?

For the main catalogue entry, see: Medieval manuscripts in Oxford libraries

Other descriptions: Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts

Description

From Medieval manuscripts in Oxford libraries

This is an extract only. For more information, see the catalogue record in Medieval manuscripts in Oxford libraries.

Medieval manuscripts in Oxford libraries contains descriptions of all known Western medieval manuscripts held in the Bodleian Libraries, and of medieval manuscripts in selected Oxford colleges. Learn more.

Title

Codex Laud (Codex Mictlan): Toltec pictorial sacred book (teoamoxtli)

Shelfmark

MS. Laud Misc. 678

Place of origin

Mexican

Date

Pre–Hispanic, possibly the 15th century

Language

No linguistic content

Contents

Divinatory-calendrical compilation
(pp. 1–8) Almanac of forty day signs (two 20-day cycles)
(pp. 9–16) Lords of the Half-Trecenas (groups of 8 and 5 days). Tonalpohualli organized as a compressed table, reading from right to left.
(pp. 17–22) Protocol for ritual involving counted offerings.
(pp. 23) Rain almanac; twenty day signs arranged around a Tlaloc.
(pp. 24) Eclipse almanac (?) "The sun god seated in a sun disk surrounded by blood is being covered by a dark flow from the death god’s mouth; eight other gods flank the sides. Near the corners are four day signs (Crocodile, Death, Monkey, Vulture), each with twenty-five spacers to represent double trecenas. As trecena signs, Crocodile, Death, Monkey, and Vulture divide the tonalpohualli into quarters".
(pp. 25–32) Death almanac. Count of 360 days organized as a compressed table, irregularly associated with eight scenes involving skeletal figures.
(pp. 33–38) Marriage almanac. Numbers 2–26 associated with twenty-five couples
(pp. 39a–42a) Tonalpohualli in trecenas organized as a compressed table, associated with four figures and rituals of Tlazolteotl.
(pp. 39b–44b) Forty day signs organized as a grouped list, irregularly associated with eleven scenes of ritual involving tied bundles of kindling and reeds.
(pp. 43a–44a) Tonalpohualli organized as a compressed table, irregularly associated with five scenes of diverse nature, perhaps funereal.
(pp. 45–46) Protocols for rituals involving counted offerings.

Form

codex

Support

deerskin (?) with covers of jaguar skin; four strips of animal skin glued together and folded to form twenty-four 'pages', each 'page' c. 165 157

Decoration

Painting on gesso ground (see Rojas for technical details).

Binding

Preserved in mid-16th century gilt-tooled Italian slip case.

Acquisition

Part of his second donation to the Bodleian, 1636.

Provenance

William Laud, 1636; previous provenance unknown.

View full record in Medieval manuscripts in Oxford libraries

From Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts

This is an extract only. For more information, see the catalogue record in Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts.

Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts contains descriptions of the Bodleian Libraries’ archival collections, including post-1500 manuscripts. Some manuscripts with records in other catalogues are also described here as part of a description of a larger archive. Learn more.

Title

'Codex Laud': Mexican pictorial screenfold manuscript

Shelfmark

MS. Laud Misc. 678

Summary

'Codex Laud': Mexican pictorial screenfold manuscript (260-day calendarial cycle ('tonalpohualli') illustrated with appropriate rituals and offerings used in divination; part of the so-called 'Borgia Group' of divinatory-ritual books).

Date

15th century (?)

Language

Spanish

Physical facet

Preserved in mid-16th century gilt-tooled Italian slip-case

Physical extent

1 item

Custodial history

Manuscript 1744 acquired by the Bodleian Library

View full record in Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts

Collection contents

Laudian Collection

'Codex Laud': Mexican pictorial screenfold manuscript

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