"The document, however, that gives the most valuable information," says Lenormant, "as to the cosmogony of the Mexicans is one known as 'Codex Vaticanus,' from the library where it is preserved.
The Codex Vaticanus refers to Codex Vaticanus Latinus 3738, also known as Codex Rios, an Aztec manuscript preserved in the Vatican Library.
Below is a focused explanation of these four ages, emphasizing the flood narrative, based on interpretations from the Codex Vaticanus and related sources like the Codex Chimalpopoca.
According to the Codex Vaticanus, the deluge was triggered by divine forces, with waters overwhelming the earth for an extended period—remaining calm for 52 "springs" (cycles) afterward.
Codex Vaticanus describes four ages of the world, with the last ending in a great flood.
Codex Vaticanus: Describes four ages of the world, with the last ending in a great flood.