Codex: Did you mean...?

Just as in other ancient civilizations, the first banks in Rome began in the temples consecrated to the ancient Gods. Many temples held in their basements the Romans' money and treasure, and were involved in banking activities such as lending...

The poem called The Lay of Greybeard (Old Norse: Hárbarðsljóð) is one story from Norse mythology that relates an intriguing verbal fight between two of its essential gods, Thor and Odin. The poem consists of 60 stanzas and is found complete...

In the 5th century BCE, the Carthaginian explorer Hanno sailed beyond the Pillars of Hercules, out of the Mediterranean and into hitherto unknown territory down the Atlantic coast of Africa. In his search to find new resources and trading...

The poem Lokasenna belongs to the Poetic Edda, a bulk of Old Norse poetry written down in Iceland in the 1200s but based on linguistic features dating back as far as the 900s. In this invaluable resource for Norse mythology, Lokasenna stands...

A scene from the 16th century CE Florentine Codex depicting Aztec musicians. Music and dance were an important element of Aztec education and public life.

An illustration of seven noted physicians and botanists from ancient Greece in the Vienna Dioscurides(aka the Juliana Anicia Codex), a 6th Century CE Byzantine manuscript of De Materia Medica by Dioscurides (c. 40 - 90 CE). The illustration...

A 15th century CE depiction from the Gelhausenův Codex of Wenceslaus I, king of Bohemia (r. 1230-1253 CE), in full tournament armour.

The lighting of fires during the Aztec New Fire Ceremony of 1507, a ritual held every 52 years to ensure the continuation of the Sun. The priests carry fire bundles and wear turquoise masks in imitation of the fire god Xiuhtecuhtli, as do...

This is a festive and richly illuminated codex-type manuscript made of Persian and Italian watermarked paper. Written (or copied) in the Georgia Nuskhuri script by Zosime from Vale at Samtskhe Atabegs court scriptorium around 1514 CE, this...

A medieval manuscript illustration depicting the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI (r. 1191-1197 CE). (Codex Manesse, 1305-1315 CE)