centecpanpixqui (MH535r)

While we do not have a gloss explaining the banner in this example, there are other examples in the manuscript of guardians who oversaw either twenty or one hundred tribute paying families. The one overseeing one hundred, shown below, wears European style dress, which this one, overseeing twenty, does not. It is interesting that these figures are often pictured as parts of couples, with a woman's head facing toward her husband. The man, however holds the flag, or is otherwise given somewhat more attention, such as having a name glyph, while the woman does not. Also included as a comparison, below, is the flag with the Roman numerals "xx" next to it, reinforcing the reading of twenty. It is important to keep clear the difference between panitl or pamitl (found more in Tetzcoco), terms that are used for the phonetic value of "pan" or "pa," and tecpantli, which has a numerical value (although it can also refer to agricultural rows). Gordon Whittaker (personal communication, 2023) clarifies the usage of these kinds of terms.