The Azcatitlan Codex, an ancient manuscript that details Aztec history through pictograms and was last in Mexico two centuries ago, has returned on a temporary loan from France’s Bibliotheque Nationale. It went on display at Mexico City's National Museum of Anthropology on Thursday, marking the start of its exhibition until December. The codex, created by an Otomi craftsman in the 16th century, illustrates the Aztecs' migration and the fall of Tenochtitlan following Spanish conquest, symbolizing a significant cultural reunion for Mexico.
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The Azcatitlan Codex, a 16th-century manuscript detailing Aztec history in vivid pictograms, has been returned to Mexico after nearly two centuries. It was last seen in the country in 1840 and has since resided at France's Bibliotheque Nationale. The codex records the founding of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital, up until its fall following Hernan Cortes' invasion.
The artifact arrived on loan from France as part of celebrations marking 200 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations. It went on display at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City on Thursday. Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco emphasized that the exhibition aims to reconnect Mexicans with their collective memory, highlighting the document's importance to national identity.
Indigenous group members expressed joy and excitement upon seeing the codex, which had been hidden from them for generations. Mexico has long sought the return of this historically significant artifact, considered one of the most important visual records of Aztec history.
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The Azcatitlan Codex, a rare and prized manuscript that recounts the history of the Aztecs in vibrant pictograms, has returned to Mexico for the first time since 1840.
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that → recount → 1840
It went on display in Mexico City on Thursday.
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It → go → Thursday
The codex is a 16th-century artifact and regarded as one of the most important visual records of Aztec history.
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codex → regard → history
It records the founding of the Aztec capital to its fall after the subsequent arrival of Spanish conquistadores.
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It arrived in Mexico on loan from France's Bibliotheque Nationale, where it has been since 1898.
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it → arrive → 1898
The temporary loan is occurring as the two nations celebrate 200 years of diplomatic ties.
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nations → occur → ties
Reunited with history
As two folios from the document went on display inside a glass case at the National Museum of Anthropology, Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco said the exhibition was about "reuniting a population with its (collective) memory.
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exhibition → reunite → memory
"
The pictograms "represent our history, the written voice of our ancestors, and the deep root of our identity," he said, speaking at the inauguration.
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he → represent → inauguration
Mexico has demanded the treasured artifact be returned for years.
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artifact → demand → years
Members of an indigenous group reacted ecstatically to the display.
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"They hid our history from us, they stole it!" Emilia Mendoza of the Hnahnu community said at the opening exhibition.
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Mendoza → hide → exhibition
"This is a battle won, a first step toward the restitution of these books that reside in other countries," she said.
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she → win → countries
Made up of Mesoamerican pictograms with European writing, the codex is divided into three parts.
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codex → make → parts
It traces the Mexica's migration from Aztlan — the mythical birthplace of the Aztec civilization — to the founding of Tenochtitlan.
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It → trace → Tenochtitlan
The document also depicts the succession of the city's rulers, the arrival of the Spanish and the subsequent evangelization, according to Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History.
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document → depict → Anthropology
All of this has been rendered in the codex in vibrant reds, blues, greens and yellows, depicting warriors in feathered headdresses and showcasing ritual acts in pyramid temples.
More than five centuries have now passed since Tenochtitlan fell to Hernan Cortes, the leader of the invading Spanish forces.
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Tenochtitlan → render → forces
As most histories of invasion go, Cortez and his allies looted and razed the city after conquest, ushering in three centuries of Spanish domination.
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Cortez → go → domination
"These codices are extremely important to us because they continue to give us identity and value as human beings during these very special times we are experiencing," said Maria Eugenia Castaneda, representative of the Mexica peoples.
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Castaneda → continue → peoples
"They elevate our morale, our customs, our culture, and our sense of who we are."
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we → elevate → morale
According to Mexican historians, an indigenous craftsman from the Otomi people created the codex.
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craftsman → accord → codex
The document will remain on display until December.
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document → remain → December
As part of the exchange, Mexico will loan France another important historical document — the Codex Boturini — which also depicts the migration of the Aztec people to the Mexican valley.
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which → loan → valley
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