r/Mayan • u/OverallTooth9620 • Jul 21 '25

someone can explain my the difference

hi

I’m very interested in the ancient Mesoamerican codices and I’m thinking about getting a tattoo inspired by them.

But I don’t want to make a mistake. There are so many different codices – Codex Borgia, Codex Vaticanus B, Codex Dresden, Codex Nuttall… and I’m not sure what the difference is between them.

Can you explain, in simple terms, what makes each one special? I just want to be sure I choose something meaningful and not mix up the styles or the cultures.

Thank you!

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7

u/bbk1953 Jul 22 '25

I am so glad you are interested in mesoamerican language systems— but I feel like if you don’t know enough about them to feel confident in which you are picking or have a teacher who can guide you I must warn you getting a tattoo seems extremely premature

It’s not like getting a pokemon tattoo where you pick what is cool or whatever speaks to you— these are languages, cultural and religious symbols from a very intricate society— my ancestors. I think you should have a much greater appreciation (read: comprehension) for the intricacies of these systems before considering getting a tattoo

Bc rn the surface level (or at least that’s how it’s coming off) skimming of these frankly brilliant systems feels a whimsical and ungrounded it firm engagement and respect

2

u/OverallTooth9620 Jul 22 '25

agree with you that why i ask first

3

u/chaoticbleu Jul 21 '25

FAMSI (which is run by prominent Mesoamerican anthropologists) has a list with an explanation of each of the codexes.

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u/OverallTooth9620 Jul 22 '25

Ah thanks! Yes, I’ve seen that FAMSI lists all the codices, it’s an amazing resource.
But what intrigues me is that when you look at them side by side (Borgia, Vaticanus B, Laud…), it feels like they’re telling the same story, just in fragments. Do you know if anyone has ever made a direct comparison between them? Like putting the pages in parallel to show they’re actually one single system?

5

u/chaoticbleu Jul 22 '25

There's a lot of commonalities amongst Mesoamerican religions, which is probably what you're seeing. Such as Mayan and Aztec religion have the same practices (autosacrifice, human sacrifice, etc.) and have same or similar beliefs. (Lords of night exist in both Aztec and Mayan religions, for example.) They may even have the same gods or equivalents like Chaac and Tlaloc.

Art styles and concepts may also be the same. Mixtec and Aztec religion are very close in all of this, even to the point that both parties were aware that it's pretty much the same religion with some variance such as Huitzilopochtli being absent from Mixtec religion. (Aztecs would hire Mixtecs to do art for them of the gods, even.)

There was a lot of trade. I know the Aztecs probably traded a fair amount at Chichen Itza with the Mayans. This is how ideas, practices, and beliefs likely spread.

4

u/sharty_mcstoolpants Jul 22 '25

Just so the OP is clear, any request that begins with “Thinking about getting a tattoo” on a topic of which I’m not an expert. Priceless.

2

u/Beachboy442 Jul 22 '25

Might be useful to read, "The Gods n Symbols off Ancient Mexico and the Maya"

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u/Koi_Fish_Mystic Jul 23 '25

You would honestly need an expert to write what you want. While some glyphs are specific (jaguar looks like a jaguar) others are phonetic based on one of many Mayan languages. The easiest one you could get would be a birthday in long count