Last edited Thu Aug 25, 2016, 06:23 PM - Edit history (15)
This "senseless" to us destruction was neither an idle, nor to the Spanish, a frivolously activity. That these historical priceless treasures were all but totally destroyed was no accident: the conquering Spanish determinedly intended that there be a complete eradication.
The Catholic Spanish, especially their priests, fearfully saw objects emblematic of non-Christian/Catholic culture as impure and unholy. Most especially the pagan's "sacred" objects were believed thoroughly demonic. In this light these drawings were believed terrible & of the devil. This was taking place at the height of the Spanish Inquistion, an insanely intolerant period, so destroying them was the only choice.
The Spaniards blindly & ruthlessly reacted...and went about their attempt to completely erase all traces of the dark "evil" items.
(Interestingly these same Spanish, further south in Central America, erected a sizable stone crucifix high up on the very lip of a large, semi-active volcano. It was placed there because the fiery, bubbling crater to them was a terrifying gateway of hell. They believed their cross had the power to keep Satan from escaping out of this entrance to hell and roaming freely about.)
The codexes were seen in the same exact same light. Just as the Catholic communion wafer was believed to contain - or be "impanated" by - the very living body of God/"Christ," so it was believed that the vile, blasphemous "pagan" drawings unquestioningly held and embodied the horrible living presence of Satan.
That the diabolifying & then destroying of these feared pagan objects ALSO happened to help shatter the culture and morale of the newly conquered native people, making them all the more easily subjugated, 'twas but a happy side-effect.
Unquestionably, the work of "God."
As generally is in conquest, ruthless measures are the norm. Thought of preservation of knowledge, a luxury of our recently "enlightened" era, was never entertained.
Nor tolerated.
As you say, these were horrible actions. It was a tragedy. But, hardly the first.
By the way, that crucifix on the volcano's lip? It is no longer there. It was itself subsequently eradicated, by some random blast of the volcano.
Read that as you will.
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