The Aztec Codex returned to Mexico after nearly two centuries

The ancient document was brought to Mexico for a time from the National Library of France, where it was stored since 1898. The temporary transfer took place in connection with the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco said the purpose of the exhibition is to reconnect the population with its collective memory, as the pictograms represent history, the recorded voice of ancestors and the deep roots of identity. Mexico has been demanding the return of this valuable artifact for years, and indigenous people have been delighted with the exhibition. Emilia Mendoza of the Hnahnu community said at the opening that history had been hidden from them and stolen, calling it a battle won and the first step towards the return of these books, which are stored in other countries.

The Codex, consisting of Mesoamerican pictograms and European writing, is divided into three parts. It traces the story from the migration of Mexicans from Aztlan, the mythical birthplace of the Aztec civilization, to the founding of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire and modern Mexico City. According to Mexican historians, this codex was created by a local master of the Otomi people.

According to Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History, the document also chronicles the change of the city's rulers, the arrival of the Spanish and subsequent evangelization. All this is represented by bright red, blue, green and yellow colors depicting warriors in headdresses with feathers and demonstrating ritual actions in pyramid temples.

It has been more than five centuries since Tenochtitlan fell to the onslaught of the Spanish leader Hernan Cortés. Historians say that Cortés and his allies sacked and razed the city after the conquest, initiating three centuries of Spanish rule.

Maria Evgenia Castaneda, a representative of the Mexican people, said: “These codes are extremely important to us because they continue to give us individuality and value as human beings in these very special times that we experience, raising our morale, our customs, our culture and our idea of who we are.”.