Codices (Dresden, Madrid, Paris)

The Codices Dresden, Madrid, and Paris are ancient Mesoamerican manuscripts created by the Maya civilization. These folded books are made from bark paper and contain detailed knowledge about their history, rituals, astronomy, and mythology. Each codex is housed in a different European museum—Dresden, Madrid, and Paris—since many were taken during the colonial period. They are valuable for understanding Maya culture and are among the few surviving pre-Columbian written records, highlighting their significance as cultural and historical artifacts.