The Codex Dresden / Dresdensis is one of only three surviving Maya manuscripts which date to before the Spanish conquest, likely between the 12th and 15th centuries. The codex depicts the religious beliefs of the Maya people and is written in a complex logosyllabographic script.Ā
The top image of this page depicts Pawhatun, wearing a tortoise shell, with two warriors wielding atlatls and darts. They are located on top of a platform containing a deer and a āhok-snaredā glyph collocation.Ā
The accompanying text reads:
?? / / waxak-?-waj / ol / / ?-ha / / pa-wah-mak / / u-kabā-hi-tzāa-tan / ta / / tu-bāa-chaak? / cha-ki
On ? 8 Kumkāu Pawah-mak ?? under the auspices of ?? Chaak.
bāolon-ok-teā / / ?? / / yah?-winik / winal-ki / / xul?-kāin-? / / tokā-pakal / / pa-wah-och
Bāolon Yokteā ? Damage to the people; end of days. Pawah-opossumās flint-shield (warfare).Ā
The bottom image depicts a figure with a black stripe kneeling and supporting a throne on his shoulders. A figure rides the throne holding a spear and shield, accompanied by a fire serpent. The spear and shield designates this figure as a warrior and is read phonetically as tokā pakal.Ā The deity Xiuhtecuhtli stands next to this warrior, holding a spear tired to a captive with a dark black ring around his eye.Ā
The accompanying text reads:Ā
buluk-ahaw-ahaw-wa / / lahun-yax-kāin-ni / ne / / tzutz-yi / kāatun
The kāatun was completed on 10 Yaxkāin 11 Ahaw.
ah?-kimil-la / / yu-tun / kuālaākabā / nal? / chāen?
The dead person; the shaking of the earth cave.
u-yax-kāāin-yu / / bāolon-ok-teā / / ahaw-su-wa / / ya-ahaw-su
The first sun/day of the lord of Bolon Yokteā
yah?-winik / winal-ki / / yah?-kabā-chāen?
Damage to the people, damage to the earth cave.Ā