The Madrid Codex (13th-14th Century)

Maya warrior (upper half) and Deity on lower half

Also known as the Tro-Cortesianus Codex, this fascinating Maya Book is held by the Museo de America in Madrid, Spain. It mainly consists on almanacs, horoscopes, astronomical tables -and even a complete description of the New Year ceremony- used by Maya priests in the performance of their ceremonies and divinatory rituals.

The “bad part” of this codex is a complete description of how to proceed for a human sacrifice to invoke rainfall. It has been demonstrated that the Codex was written before the Spanish conquest and also proceeds from the Yucatán Peninsula. Some of the drawings are similar to the murals found at Chichen Itza, Mayapan and sites on the east coast such as Santa Rita, Tancah and Tulum. (Updated on October 9th: regarding human sacrifices on American precolombine cultures, I forgot to link this post with another codex we presented time ago: “History of Mexico” by Juan de Tovar, 17th Century, that included some rites and ceremonies of the Aztecs like the xocotl huetzi (xocotlhuetzi) ceremony, a human sacrifice...link to post here)

Technical characteristics: 56 sheets painted on both sides to produce a total of 112 pages, on amate paper, folded up in accordion style. It's delicated and not public shown in Spain, because Mayas used a extremely thin layer of fine stucco over the amate paper as painting surface that can be easily damaged (see white areas in the middle of the coloured images on the digitized pages below).

There are 3? additional Maya Codices that survived to our days: Codex Dresde, Codex Paris and Codex Grolier (recently discovered, in 1971; and still under study to determine if its original or false). I will probably complete this post -or create a new one- when I finally can obtain a complete digitized copy of Dresde Codex.

External links, articles and related information about Maya Codices:

• Fundacion para el avance de los estudios mesoamericanos (Foundation to promote Mesoamerican Projects, english version not available). Best link for additional information & deep interest on this matter. They even have a PDF digitized version of the Madrid Codex at FAMSI, divided into 4 blocks... not tested, because I obtained the complete digital facsimil at thepiratebay as safe-verified torrent file (!).
• Article, by Vékony, Atilla (1999). "Mayan Codex Facsimiles" (University of Arizona), link provided. Don't particularly agree with note regarding the "organized book-burnings of Franciscan missionaries"
• Ciudad Ruiz, Andrés; and Alfonso Lacadena (1999). J.P. Laporte and H.L. Escobedo. ed. "El Códice Tro-Cortesiano de Madrid en el contexto de la tradición escrita Maya [The Tro-Cortesianus Codex of Madrid in the context of the Maya writing tradition]". Link to article (tested) here. Best article I could find on internet about this matter (but written in spanish).
• In 1873 J. M. Melgar y Serrano, known for his descriptions of a monolithic Olmec colossal head, published an article which purported to translate a Maya manuscript belonging to Señor Miró. The article showed, somewhat poorly, a copy of an engraving of a drawing of what we now refer to as page 16 of the Madrid Codex, taken from La Ilustración de Madrid, Núm. 29 (March 15, 1871), link here.

For a high resolution, pdf version of this manuscript, contact me (facsimilium AT gmail DOT com).

 

"F de La Rose-croix", or the Early Rosicrucian Manuscripts

There’s a huge amount of well preserved documentation -some of them manuscripts like the Anonymous codex I present today- about Rosicrucian Philosophy in all virtual libraries around the world. After my investigation I found that most of them are in US and has a basic explanation: during the previous phases of United States declaration of independence, a lot of philosophers and free-thinker minds escaped from European internal conflicts –frequently related with religion or philosophy- to establish on the new land of America.

Probably one of the best source –at least in terms of Rosicrucian Philosophy documentation- is the Getty Research institute (Los Angeles, CA; US). Let me briefly start with some basic definitions about the term itself: Rosicrucianism is a generic term referring to studies or membership within a philosophical secret society said to have been founded in late medieval Germany by Christian Rosenkreuz. It holds a doctrine or theology "built on esoteric truths of the ancient past", which, "concealed from the average man, provide insight into nature, the physical universe and the spiritual realm."

Rosicrucianism is symbolized by the Rosy Cross, usually represented in the first page of every related Codex 

Some other basic characteristics to understand this Secret Society:

• Rosicrucianism was -in its origin- associated with Protestantism (Lutheranism)
• It's opposed to Roman Catholicism.
• Rosacrucians reject Muhammad, though they traced their philosophy and science to the Moors, asserting that it had been kept secret for 120 years until the intellectual climate might receive it.
• Early seventeenth century occult philosophers such as Michael Maier, Robert Fludd and Thomas Vaughan studied the Rosicrucian world view (About Michael Maier in particular, I'll post soon a complete article based on its life and Opus, as there's a relatively good part of his Books preserved today in all virtual libraries around the world)
• Many esoteric and secret societies have claimed to derive their doctrines, in whole or in part, from the original Rosicrucians. Several modern societies have been formed for the study of Rosicrucianism and allied subjects.
• According to some Historians, it was also influential to Freemasonry as it was emerging in Scotland.

Some related references:

• Nesta Webster's, "Secret Societies and Subversive Movements", London, 1924, p. 87 and note 37. Book available on the internet, I recommend save prior to read -pdf version-, link here
• Very good reference for a general overview about Rosacrucianism and its influence: Lindgren, Carl Edwin, The way of the Rose Cross; A Historical Perception, 1614–1620. Journal of Religion and Psychical Research, Volume18, Number 3:141-48. 1995. Link to the article here.
• Rosacrucianism served as inspiration for Essays, Fictional literature, Conspiracy literature (Umberto Eco, Dan Brown, etc)... for a complete list, I do recommend the final part of the wikipedia article about Rosacrucianism.
• Web pages: The "Alchemy website" treats about Rosacrucians, link provided. I recommend the "Alchemical symbolism and imagery" section, (click on imagery button).

Apart of the manuscript presented today, I couldn't resist to post some other pages from later European Rosacrucianism books (from the Order of the Golden Down),

Observe the similarity to the first image of this post (from another Rosicrucian codex)

De Figura seu imagine mundi, 15th Century



Andromeda and Perseus constellations



Original title for this 15^th Century jewel is “De Figura seu imagine mundi”, issued in 1456 by Luis de Angulo (Spaniard origin), a.k.a. Louis de Langle (died in Lyon) or even Angulo Ludovicus, in Latin. Couldn’t find details about his bio, but looks clear that Ludovico was mainly focused and got rich skills on Astronomy: He studied, commented and translated the Great “Liber de nativitatibus” or Book of Nativities written by the Spanish Abenezra or Abraham Ibn Ezra -1089, Tudela, Kingdom of Navarra-, probably the most distinguished Jewish men of letters and writers of the Middle Ages.

The codex is basically a detailed astronomy and geography treatise, divided into 3 separated parts: World’s creation, different parts of earth –description- and the stars maps. Copies can be found in Spain (Madrid, Biblioteca Nacional), Bibliothèque nationale de France (Paris) and in Saint Gallen (Switzerland), Kantonsbibliothek Vadiana.



Centaurus constellation

Zepheus

Related external references:

• Pousa, Ramon Fernandez, «Una Imago mundi española : Ludouicus de Angulo, De imagine seu figura mundi, Lion, 1456», Revista de Indias, 2, 1941, p. 39-65
• Hustache, Étienne, « Le monde vu de Lyon en 1456: la cosmographie de Louis de Langle », Lyon, cité de savants, 112e congrès national des sociétés savantes, Lyon, 1987, Paris, Éditions du CTHS, 1988, p. 9-16. Link to google books here.
• Referenced on article "Imágenes de los decanos en el Liber astrologiae de Fendulus (París, Bibliothèque Nationale, ms. Lat. 7330)" from Documentation Legal Deposit, University of Barcelona. Complete article here. Reference extracted: "The ilustrations of Fendulus Liber astrologiae lived on into the Late Middle Ages. Apart from studying the iconographic filiation among other copies of the work itsefl, the author of this papers tries to demonstrate tha one of thes manuscripts should have been the iconographic source for the decanic images in Louis of Angle Liber de figura seu imagine mundi (c. 1450). The article concludes with a bibliographical essay on the iconography of the Dekanesternbilder".

The four gospels in Arabic, 18th Century

According to the colophon at the end of the Gospel of John, this copy was completed by Ibrāhīm ibn Būluṣ ibn Dāwūd al-Ḥalabī in Cairo (Egypt), probably in 1723 or 1724 but with a final contribution in 1745 (second identified hand is Jirjis b. Hananiya).

It is written in a clear Nasḫī Arabic Script (sometimes lacking complete vowel indicators) and in black ink. All the illustrations were provided by the Aleppo illustrator and icon painter Ğirğis bin Ḥanāniyā, portray the four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, as well as 43 scenes from the life of Jesus. On the back of the last page of text the illustrator included a note that he had completed the illustrations in September 1745.

Codex is richly illuminated with decorative script and floral decorations in 18th century Ottoman style. Main text and quire marks black, introductory benedictions, chapter headings and two liturgical remarks are in red and blue.

The Arabic title, "This book is the holy, pure Gospel and the illuminating, shining Light", is stated at the end of the Gospel of John.

Some technical details regarding the codex: 240 pages in format size 29 x 21 cm with no pagination. Text is written in 2 columns 13,5 (6,5+0,5+6,5) x 20 cm. 21 lines ruled in dry-point. Columns are framed with gold and red lines.

Genelogies of the Erles of Lecestre and Chester, 16th Century

Miniature of two knights bearing shields with the emblems of Leicester and Chester

This is the shortest codex at facsimilium, so far: only 20 leaves with the genealogy of Robert Dudley -Earl of Leicester- tracing his descent from the Earls of Leicester and Chester, beginning with individuals of the 11th and 12th centuries, and providing the heraldic devices of the principal members of these families.

About Robert Dudley, was an English nobleman and favourite of Elizabeth I from her first year on the throne until his death: On 18 November 1558, the morning after Elizabeth's accession, he witnessed the surrender of the Great Seal to her at Hatfield and became Master of the Horse on the same day (an important court position entailing close attendance on the sovereign).

Codex, (layout, script and binding details below), best leaves:

Robert Dudley is mentioned in the introduction but does not appear within the genealogy tree, as noted in a late 16th- or early 17th-century hand note (right side)

Related references/details about the codex:

1. McGeoch, Barbara. A study of a genealogical manuscript of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. MA thesis, City University of New York, 1974. Link to book (google books) here
2. Provenance (source::University of Pennsylvania as they host a digitized copy of the codex) as follows, Sold to H. P. Kraus by a London book dealer before 1964; consigned by Kraus to Sotheby's, 1964 (unable to check on sotheby's webpage). Sold to Madeleine Pelner Cosman by Sotheby's, 1964. Finally, was sold by Les Enluminures (Paris and Chicago), 2007. Les enluminures web page doesn't have a search engine, couldn't make further investigations here...
3. Codex physical description (same source Penn Univ): 20 .aper leaves; 219 x 165 mm. bound to 223 x 170 mm. Layout: Written in 25 long lines, ruled in lead; double vertical and single horizontal bounding lines in pale red ink. Script: Written in a hybrid secretary bookhand. Binding: Contemporary stiff vellum with five cords sewn through and visible on spine and one cord now gone at tail of spine; holes for two missing ties on fore-edge of covers.

"Calila and Dimna", or the Arabic translation of Panchatantra (14th Century)

This is an amazing (due to the large amount of richly illustrations, I counted more than 73 full -or almost- pages on a total of 268 vellum pages) Arabic copy of The Panchatantra, -The Five Principles-, an ancient Indian collection of animal fables in verse and prose. The original Sanskrit work, which some scholars believe was composed in the 3rd century is attributed to Vishnu Sharma. It is based on older oral traditions, including "animal fables that are as old as we are able to imagine", and the Buddhist Jataka Tales.

As far as I could investigate, first arabic translation -8th Century- was issued by the Iranian (province of Fars) Ibn al-Muqaffa', a Persian Zoroastrian philosopher converted to Islam.

This codex was issued in Egypt during 14th Century and, as said before, really impress because of its large amount of richly colored illustrations. There’s also a latin translation of the Panchatantra -through the Arabic translation- ordered by Spanish King Alfonso X the wise, when he still was a Prince (as was crowned in 1252, that leads to set the date of composition in 1251 what would convert this other latin translation into the first prose-fiction work written in the Iberian Peninsula).

This first Latin translation in Spain was more oriented to prince's education through the eastern method of questions and answers between the king and a philosopher, but told by and featuring animals: an ox, an lion and two jackals called Calila and Dimna, which are who tell the majority of the tales. This structure is used later in Don Juan Manuel's Tales of Count Lucanor.

 

Related external links:

• Online english tranlation for Panchatantra, hosted by University of Chicago (translated by Arthur W. Ryder), links to books 1 to 5 here.
• Jataka Tales of the Buddha, retold by Ken & Visakha Kawasaki -not illustrated- link
• Encyclopaedia Britannica (topic Ibn al-Muqaffa' discussed & articles, with related images) here
• BIOs: Vishnu Sharma, Ibn al-Muqaffa', King Alfonso X the wise (links to wikipedia), provided.

The "Comic history of Rome", 19th Century

The "Comic History of Rome, from the founding of the city to the end of the commonwealth" was written by Gilbert Abbott à Beckett (1811 – 1856), an English humorist born in London and educated at Westminster School. Gilbert was an active journalist on The Times and The Morning Herald and contributed with series of light articles to The Illustrated London News that conducted in 1846 to The Almanack of the Month. He is perhaps best known as the author of Comic History of England and the Comic History of Rome.

(This edition -available on facsimilium collection- was printed by Bradbury, Evans and Co. -whitefriars, 11 Bouverie street-)

Romulus and Remus

This edition was illustrated (10 steel engravings and 100-odd wood engravings) by John Leech, and indefatigable worker, true humorist and student of human life. I found a complete collection of drawings from Mr Leech on wikimedia commons, regarding a different edition of this "Comic history of Rome", and posted some below (average resolution is good, with full res option 1,997 × 3,403 pxls). Mr Leech also supplied illustrations for a number of magazines and books, most notably the plates in 'A Christmas Carol' by Dickens.



The Mother of the Gracchi



Terrific Combat between Titus Manlius and a Gaul of gigantic Stature

Tarquinius Superbus makes himself King.

Appius Claudius punished by the People.

Some related external links:

• The John Leech Sketch archives from Punch, surprising collection of sketches (more than 600) issued from year 1841 to 1864. 1st click on "enter the archive" then navigate to "year index", most prolific year was 1851 with a total of 96 sketches, ordered by title. I was surprised about this website, no official logo, no reference to webmaster... ¿?

• Wikimedia collection. Category:The Comic History of Rome