An Encyclopedia of 16th-Century Indigenous Mexico

The Digital Florentine Codex gives access to a singular manuscript created by Franciscan friar Bernardino de Sahagún and a group of Nahua elders, authors, and artists. Written in parallel columns of Nahuatl and Spanish texts and hand painted with nearly 2,500 images, the encyclopedic codex is widely regarded as the most reliable source of information about Mexica culture, the Aztec Empire, and the conquest of Mexico. Upon completion in 1577 at the Imperial Colegio de la Santa Cruz in Tlatelolco (today Mexico City), the manuscript was sent to Europe where it entered the Medici family’s library in Florence—thus, the Florentine Codex. This digital edition unlocks the manuscript’s content by making the texts and images searchable.

Books

Illustration of GodsBook 1
Gods
Illustration of Calendar and FestivalsBook 2
Calendar and Festivals
Illustration of Origin of the GodsBook 3
Origin of the Gods
Illustration of Judicial Astrology or Divinatory ArtsBook 4
Judicial Astrology or Divinatory Arts
Illustration of Omens and PrognosticationsBook 5
Omens and Prognostications
Illustration of Rhetoric, Moral Philosophy, and TheologyBook 6
Rhetoric, Moral Philosophy, and Theology
Illustration of Astrology and Natural PhilosophyBook 7
Astrology and Natural Philosophy
Illustration of Kings and LordsBook 8
Kings and Lords
Illustration of MerchantsBook 9
Merchants
Illustration of PeopleBook 10
People
Illustration of Forest, Garden, OrchardBook 11
Forest, Garden, Orchard
Illustration of Conquest of MexicoBook 12
Conquest of Mexico

Deities

Occupations

Illustration of Warrior
Warrior
Illustration of Trumpeter
Trumpeter
Illustration of Farmer
Farmer
Illustration of Drummer
Drummer
Illustration of Feather Worker
Feather Worker
Illustration of Carpenter
Carpenter
Illustration of Seller
Seller
Illustration of Fisherman
Fisherman
Illustration of Archer
Archer
Illustration of Weaver
Weaver
Illustration of Hunter
Hunter
Illustration of Midwife/Healer (ticitl)
Midwife/Healer (ticitl)

Everyday Nahuatl

Illustration of Tamale
Tamale
Illustration of Quetzal
Quetzal
Illustration of Metate
Metate
Illustration of Cacao
Cacao
Illustration of Ocelot
Ocelot
Illustration of Coyote
Coyote
Illustration of Chili
Chili
Illustration of Tortilla
Tortilla
Illustration of Axolotl
Axolotl
Illustration of Chapulin
Chapulin
Illustration of Tomato
Tomato
Illustration of Elote
Elote

Individuals

Illustration of Ahuitzotl
Ahuitzotl
Illustration of Cuauhtemoc
Cuauhtemoc
Illustration of Moteuczoma Xocoyotzin
Moteuczoma Xocoyotzin
Illustration of Malintzin
Malintzin
Illustration of Hernan Cortes
Hernan Cortes
Illustration of Tzilacatzin
Tzilacatzin

Animals

Illustration of Dogs
Dogs
Illustration of Birds
Birds
Illustration of Fish
Fish
Illustration of Serpents
Serpents
Illustration of Butterflies
Butterflies
Illustration of Horses
Horses

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