Ahuatepec (T2680:19:9r)

Ahuatepec (T2680:19:9r)
Compound Glyph

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description: 

This is a compound glyph naming the hill or mountain known as Ahuatepec. This place name combines two elements. One is an oak tree (ahuatl) which is seen growing from the summit of the second element. This is the hill/mountain (tepetl) that provides the second part of the name. The locative -c (in, on, etc.) is not visualized, though the hill is a semantic indicator for “place of.” The black-outlined mountain is colored in a mixture of greens and browns. It has some contour suggested by black lines. While there is a resemblance to earlier, more traditional depictions of tepetl, it is simplified and betrays at least some European influence. The oak tree is outlined in black, too, with its foliage painted green. The artist has given its leafy nature a naturalistic, if not detailed, look.

Description, Credit: 

Robert Haskett

Added Analysis: 

Ahuatepec, in the Tulancingo region and in the vicinity of the pueblo of Acatlan, was a focal point in a request for a grant of a sitio de estancia para ganado menor (site for a small livestock—in this case cabras [goats]—ranch) requested by the Spaniard Melchor de Carejas. On the map, a Spanish gloss informs the reader that on the lower slopes of the hill there is an ojo de agua (spring). There are indeed three springs depicted on the map. The one in question here is shown to the south of Ahuatepec and across a road (painted brown with black human footprints inside of it at intervals; see the historical contextualizing image). Another gloss identifies this spring as the featured source of water. The artist of the map is identified as a man—possibly Indigenous—named Andrés Rafael. The map dates from between 1564-1573.

Added Analysis, Credit: 

Robert Haskett

Gloss Image: 
Gloss Diplomatic Transcription: 

çerro de ahuatepec

Gloss Normalization: 

Cerro de Ahuatepec

Gloss Analysis, Credit: 

Robert Haskett

Date of Manuscript: 

1564-1573

Creator's Location (and place coverage): 

Acatlan, Tulancingo, Hidalgo

Semantic Categories: 
Writing Features: 
Cultural Content, Credit: 

Robert

Parts (compounds or simplex + notation): 
Reading Order (Compounds or Simplex + Notation): 
Other Cultural Influences: 
Keywords: 

oak trees, robles, hills, mountains, cerros, montañas

Museum & Rare Book Comparisons: 
Museum/Rare Book Notes: 

Source of image: https://pixabay.com/es/photos/gerichtseiche-roble-%C3%A1rbol-2314686/ -- Imagen de Gerichtseiche, Roble y Árbol. De uso gratuito.

Glyph or Iconographic Image: 
Relevant Nahuatl Dictionary Word(s): 
Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation: 

en el cerro del roble

Spanish Translation, Credit: 

Robert Haskett

Image Source: 

Single-page codex, Archivo General de la Nación, México, Ramo de Tierras Vol. 2680, Exp. 19, Fol. 9r.

Image Source, Rights: 

The Archivo General de la Nación (AGN), México, holds the original manuscript. This image is published here under a Creative Commons license, asking that you cite the AGN and this Visual Lexicon of Aztec Hieroglyphs.

Historical Contextualizing Image: