codices

A codex is a book made of individual sheets bound along one edge, as opposed to a scroll. Pages may be parchment, vellum, papyrus, or paper and can contain text, images, or both. The term codex can refer to the physical format, as well as to a manuscript collection, such as a code of laws or a set of canonical texts.

Etymology and terminology: The word codex comes from Latin codex, meaning a block or trunk, later used to denote a book made of leaves. In many languages, codex has come to mean a bound book, and in scholarly contexts it also designates a manuscript collection or code.

Historical development: The codex form emerged in the ancient world as an alternative to the scroll. In the late antique and medieval periods, the codex gradually supplanted scrolls for many texts, including Christian scriptures, because it is easier to navigate, bookmark, and annotate. The transition contributed to changes in how texts were copied, organized, and distributed.

Regional and cultural examples: In Mesoamerica, pre-Columbian codices were created on bark-paper or plant fibers and folded like an accordion, bound along one edge. They recorded calendars, genealogies, rituals, and histories; notable examples include the Dresden, Madrid, and Paris codices. In Europe, medieval and early modern codices—papyri and parchment manuscripts—became the standard format for religious, legal, scientific, and literary works, culminating in the era of printed books.

Modern usage and significance: Today, codex remains a general term for bound books and is used in archaeology and textual studies to distinguish book-form manuscripts from scrolls. The term also appears in the titles of famous law codes and in contemporary names for various collections and projects.