The Timbuktu Manuscripts are a collection of historical texts from the West African city of Timbuktu. These manuscripts cover a wide range of topics, including religion, law, science, and literature. The texts provide a window into the intellectual life of Timbuktu from the 13th century AD through the 19th century AD. Scholars have used these…
Manuscripts, Books and Documents
Before printing presses, manuscripts were painstakingly hand-written documents. These books, often made from parchment or papyrus, covered subjects from religion and science to literature and history. Ancient manuscripts are invaluable records of human thought and culture.
Maya Codex of Mexico
The Maya Codex of Mexico, also known as the Grolier Codex, is one of the few surviving Maya manuscripts. Dated to the 12th century AD, this codex offers a glimpse into the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. Among the Maya books that still exist, it is the most recent and controversial due to questions surrounding its authenticity.Discovery…
Codex Gigas
The Codex Gigas is one of the largest and most mysterious medieval manuscripts ever created. Known as the “Devil’s Bible,” it is famous for its size, elaborate artwork, and the legend surrounding its creation. It was written in the early 13th century AD, and remains a historical artifact of great interest due to its content…
Egyptian Lost Book of the Dead
The Book of the Dead is an ancient Egyptian funerary text that helped the dead navigate the afterlife. It is not a single book but a collection of magical spells written on papyrus. These texts evolved over centuries, reflecting the religious beliefs and practices of different periods in Egyptian history.Origins and DevelopmentThe Book of the…
The Dresden Codex
Introduction to the Dresden Codex The Dresden Codex is a significant Maya book, once considered the oldest surviving book from the Americas, dating back to the 11th or 12th century AD. However, in September 2018, it was established that the Maya Codex of Mexico, formerly known as the Grolier Codex, predates it by about a…