The Fifth Codex

Page from the Paris Codex:

The Maya were Native Americans who lived in the vicinity of the Yucatan Peninsula in southern Mexico, along with neighbouring parts of southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and western Honduras. They built large ceremonial centers -- city-sized complexes with ball-courts and huge pyramidal platforms. Astute observers of the natural world, they had a highly developed calender system, and made astronomical observations and predictions about celestial movements that would have astounded their European contemporaries had they known of one another.

When Europeans did finally discover the existence of this fascinating culture, they immediately set about to subjugate them, and to save them from their "barbarous beliefs" by Christianizing them. Among the most sacred objects of the Maya were thousands of manuscripts that recorded their religious beliefs, astronomical observations and predictions, dynastic histories, medical knowledge, and more. Many of these manuscripts were hundreds of years old. Most were made of a paper derived from the inner bark of certain trees, though a few may have been on animal hides. The long sheets, folded accordian style, were painted with glyphs that were a true alphabet in that they represented particular sounds in the Mayan language. Some glyphs could also be ideographs -- they represented a complete word or idea, while others were portraits of historical or mythological persons and gods. The European priests gathered these books together, and promptly burned them.

Four specimens are known to have survived the destruction, probably because they had already been removed (stolen) and taken to Europe. Today three of these are best known by the names of the cities that they are found in, the Dresden Codex, the Paris Codex and the Madrid Codex. The fourth, or Grolier Codex, is in a private collection.

The Fifth Codex is yet to be found. Rumours abound that at least one, and maybe more of these irreplaceable manuscripts escaped destruction. Hidden from the priests in a dry cave somewhere in Mexico, the Fifth Codex awaits discovery. It is not within the traditional Mayan territory, but further north -- in the land of the Aztec or even beyond. A scribe is said to have taken the sacred text when he learned that the priests were burning great piles of them, and headed north, avoiding all the major centers where the Spanish were known to be in control. How far he went, or where he secreted the manuscript is unknown. It is said that he believed Ix Chel, the Mayan goddess of childbirth would give the codex back to the Maya when the Spanish were expelled from the land.

Ix Chel hasn't returned the script, it may be up to us. If you know of, or discover or learn of, any caves in the broad mountains of Mexico, report their location to the archeaology department at the University of Mexico. Exact coordinates from a GPS or a detailed map are essential to ensure the location can be found again.

It is out there.

Some links to sites with information on the Maya:

Or for more detailed study, buy one of these great books on the Maya:

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