Aztatl (MH778v)

Aztatl (MH778v)
Simplex Hieroglyph

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description: 

This black-line drawing of the simplex glyph for the personal name Aztatl ("Egret") is attested here as a man's name. It shows a profile view of a white heron (also known as an egret) in a standing position. While its body is facing toward the viewer's right, the bird's head with long beak is bending down, nearly touching its toes. Its visible eye is open.

Description, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis: 

Nahuas saw a considerable value in the white feathers of the egret.

Added Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Gloss or Text Image: 
Gloss/Text Diplomatic Transcription: 

juā . aztatl.

Gloss/Text Normalization: 

Juan Aztatl

Gloss/Text Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Source Manuscript: 
Huexotzinco, Matrícula de (MH)
Date of Manuscript: 

1560

Creator's Location (and place coverage): 

Huejotzingo, Puebla

Semantic Categories: 
personal name
Syntax: 
noun(s)
Writing Features: 
simplex or element as logogram
Cultural Content & Iconography: 
Animals: Birds
Feathers
Names (personal and/or theonym)
Cultural Content, Credit: 

Jeff Haskett-Wood

Colors: 
black & white drawing (no color)
Shapes and Perspectives: 
facing right
profile view
Keywords: 

garzas, pájaros, nombres de hombres, ave, aves, pájaro, pluma, plumas, animals, animales, men’s names

Museum/Rare Book/Realia Comparisons: 
Museum/Rare Book/Realia Notes: 

A white heron (Egretta caerulea) is one of remains of three herons and some small ducks carved in green stone found in offerings at the Templo Mayor. Birds are prevalent in Nahua naming patterns, even when the only bird with a day sign in the divinatory calendar was the eagle. The white feathers of the egret were highly prized for use in religious regalia, along with quetzal, macaw, and parrot feathers. Photograph by Stephanie Wood, Museo del Templo Mayor, Mexico City, 15 February 2023.

Glyph or Iconographic Image: 
Relevant Nahuatl Dictionary Word(s): 

azta(tl), Snowy Egret, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/aztatl

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation: 

la garza

Spanish Translation, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Image Source: 

Matrícula de Huexotzinco, folio 778v, World Digital Library, https://www.loc.gov/resource/gdcwdl.wdl_15282/?sp=631&st=image

Image Source, Rights: 

This manuscript is hosted by the Library of Congress and the World Digital Library; used here with the Creative Commons, “Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License” (CC-BY-NC-SAq 3.0).

Historical Contextualizing Image: 
See Also: 

aztatl (Mdz21v)

Aztacoatl (MH771v)

aztatl (FCbk11f28r)

Aztatzon (Verg39v)