Aztatzon (Verg44v)

Aztatzon (Verg44v)
Compound Glyph

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description: 

This compound Nahuatl hieroglyph is a black-line drawing of the personal name Aztatzon (perhaps Egret-Hair, or Egret-Head), attested here as a man’s name. The compound has two elements. At the bottom is a large white heron or egret (aztatl). The short feathers on its body are shown as textured. Its neck has a notable S-curve. It is shown in profile, facing left. Above the egret is a full head of hair (tzontli) without the head showing underneath. It is apparently black hair, and it has the style that a man would wear.

Description, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis: 

In this digital collection (as of March 2026) there is one other compound hieroglyph for Aztatzon. That one, below, shows an egret with hair on its head. In that case, the hair stretches straight out behind the bird, as though being blown by a stiff wind.

Added Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Gloss or Text Image: 
Gloss/Text Diplomatic Transcription: 

franco. aztatzo.

Gloss/Text Normalization: 

Francisco Aztatzon

Gloss/Text Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Source Manuscript: 
Vergara, Codex (Verg)
Date of Manuscript: 

1539

Creator's Location (and place coverage): 

near Tepetlaoztoc, near Tetzcoco

Semantic Categories: 
personal name
Syntax: 
noun(s)
Writing Features: 
compound fully logographic
Cultural Content & Iconography: 
Animals: Birds
Gender (male)
Hair (human or animal)
Names (personal and/or theonym)
Cultural Content, Credit: 

Jeff Haskett-Wood

Colors: 
black & white drawing (no color)
Shapes and Perspectives: 
facing left
profile view
S-shapes (any direction)
Parts (compounds or simplex + notation): 
2
Reading Order (Compounds or Simplex + Notation): 
upward
Keywords: 

garza, pájaro, pájaros, cabello, pelo, cabeza, nombres de hombres, men’s names

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

azta(tl), white heron or egret, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/aztatl
tzon(tli), hair or head, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/tzontli

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation: 

posiblemente, Garza-Cabello

Spanish Translation, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Image Source: 

Available at Codex Vergara, folio 44v, https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b84528032/f96.item.zoom, accessed 25 March 2026 The Vergara is associated with Tepetlaoztoc, in the larger region of Tetzcoco, c. 1539–1543. “Source gallica.bnf.fr / BnF.” We would also appreciate a citation to the Visual Lexicon of Aztec Hieroglyphs, https://aztecglyphs.wired-humanities.org/.

Image Source, Rights: 

Image Rights: The non-commercial reuse of images from the Bibliothèque nationale de France is free as long as the user is in compliance with the legislation in force and provides the citation: “Source gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque nationale de France” or “Source gallica.bnf.fr / BnF.” We would also appreciate a citation to the Visual Lexicon of Aztec Hieroglyphs, https://aztecglyphs.wired-humanities.org/

Orthography: 
dropped "n"
intrusive period
Historical Contextualizing Image: 
See Also: 

Aztatzon (MH549v)