M. Stadnik, Master's Student

Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17721/1728-2640.2022.154-155.8


GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE MESOAMERICAN CODICES OF THE BORGIA GROUP


This article examines the block of Mesoamerican codices, referred to as the "Borgia group" within the scientific community. First distinguished by Eduard Seler in 1887, the group encompasses several manuscripts that share similar content and iconography. Despite some drawbacks of classification, the term "Borgia group" has become established in academic circles and is commonly used in specialized publications.

Using primarily English and Spanish language literature, as well as visual sources, the article provides basic information on the physical characteristics, history, content, and artistic features of each of the group's seven codices. Special attention is given to the issue of determining the origin of some of the documents. It is noted that, based on the content and style, they were likely created at the intersection of two ethnocultural communities: Nahua and Mixtec. Actual paper presents the main facts and hypotheses regarding the place of origin of each manuscript.

Six of the seven codices are currently held in Europe, and it is difficult to trace their journey from the New World to their present location in detail. The article summarizes recent research that sheds some light on the early history of some of the manuscripts.

The Borgia group comprises documents with calendar and religious content, often referred to in literature as tonalamatl, which can be translated from Nahuatl as "paper of days" or "book of days." The article emphasizes the individuality of the content of each manuscript. The information they contain is commonly unique, and many scenes remain unclear to researchers.

In addition, the article analyzes the artistic techniques, stylistics, and iconography of the manuscripts, both within and outside the Borgia group, based on pictorial sources. It examines commonalities and differences among the codices, highlighting their individual features.

Keywords: mesoamerica, Mesoamerican codices, manuscripts, Borgia group, tonalamatl, Tlaxcala-Puebla, Nahua, Mixtec.


Submitted: 10.12.2022

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