ayotl (Mdz47r)

The depiction of a turtle here provides the reading of ayotl as turtle, but it could be a phonetic indicator for other meanings. For example, the hard shell of the turtle had various uses, including forming the basis for a drum, with both the top and bottom remaining intact and with ends left open (see La Música Tejana, 1977, 5). It was played by being struck with a mallet or a deer antler (see Louise M. Pryke, Turtle, 2020). Gourds also have a visual resemblance to tortoise shells, and a hardness to them, which can result in the reading of ayotl as gourd. The term ayotl has an additional meaning, relating to the nature of water (a[tl] + -yotl) and thus to various liquids, such as strained herbal water, alcoholic beverages, or even relating to urine. Finally, the ayotli (squash) and the ayotl (turtle) have a strikingly similar look and sound, and yet very different meanings. Thus we are tracking them for homophony.

Also worth noting is the link between the glyphs for ayotl and yaotl (enemy combatant) which overlap significantly in the Matrícula de Huexotzinco. And, the turtle shell (carapacho in Spanish) served as a percussion instrument. The Museo de Sitio de Tlatelolco (2012, 259) provides an excellent example of one of these turtle-shell drums. This may underline another connection between the turtle and warfare.