ce xiuhtica (CST9)

ce xiuhtica (CST9)
Simplex Glyph
Notation

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description: 

This painting of the simplex glyph for the term ce xiuhtica (yearly) shows the Mixtec symbol for year (an A-shape in tan and brown, with a red interior). Attached to this year sign is a pair of small concentric circles, connecting to the year sign by a short line. These circles are painted red. The Mixtec year sign is also called the A-O sign, given that the A-shape is crossed horizontally by an entwined ring that could be considered an O. In some other examples, the O shape is larger and more open.

Description, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis: 

A few other examples of the A-O year sign (from the Codex Quetzalecatzin, which is also a Mixtec codex) appear below. For more on the Codex Sierra, see Kevin Terraciano’s study (2021).

Added Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Gloss Image: 
Source Manuscript: 
Sierra/Texupan, Codex (CST)
Date of Manuscript: 

1550–1564

Creator's Location (and place coverage): 

Santa Catalina Texupan, Mixteca Alta, Oaxaca

Semantic Categories: 
calendrics
numbers
Syntax: 
line connecting elements
noun(s)
Writing Features: 
simplex or element as logogram
Cultural Content & Iconography: 
Numbers, Math
Time, Calendar, Frequency
Cultural Content, Credit: 

Jeff Haskett-Wood

Colors: 
brown
red
tan
Shapes and Perspectives: 
A-shapes (any direction)
circle(s) (small, often concentric)
frontal view
Other Cultural Influences: 
Mixtec
Keywords: 

años, símbolos, tiempo, calendarios

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

cexiuhtica, yearly, per year, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/cexiuhtica
ce, one, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/ce
xihu(itl), year, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/xihuitl

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation: 

por un año

Spanish Translation, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Image Source: 

Códice Sierra-Texupan, plate 9, page dated 1553. Origin: Santa Catalina Texupan, Mixteca Alta, State of Oaxaca. Kevin Terraciano has published an outstanding study of this manuscript (Codex Sierra, 2021), and in his book he refers to alphabetic and “pictorial” writing, not hieroglyphic writing. We are still counting some of the imagery from this source as hieroglyphic writing, but we are also including examples of “iconography” where the images verge on European style illustrations or scenes showing activities. We have this iconography category so that such images can be fruitfully compared with hieroglyphs. Hieroglyphic writing was evolving as a result of the influence of European illustrations, and even alphabetic writing impacted it.
https://bidilaf.buap.mx/objeto.xql?id=48281&busqueda=Texupan&action=sear...

Image Source, Rights: 

The Biblioteca Digital Lafragua of the Biblioteca Histórica José María Lafragua in Puebla, Mexico, publishes this Códice Sierra-Texupan, 1550–1564 (62pp., 30.7 x 21.8 cm.), referring to it as being in the “Public Domain.” This image is published here under a Creative Commons license, asking that you cite the Biblioteca Digital Lafragua and this Visual Lexicon of Aztec Hieroglyphs.

Historical Contextualizing Image: 
See Also: 

Ce Acatl (CQ)

Ce Acatl (CQ)

Ome Acatl (CQ)