Chalchiuhtlatonac (Verg48v)

Chalchiuhtlatonac (Verg48v)
Compound Glyph

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description:

This compound Nahuatl hieroglyph is a black-line drawing of the personal name Chalchiuhtlatonac (another name for Chalchiutlicue, divine force of water, or the title of a governor or a priest). The name is attested here as pertaining to a man. The compound hieroglyph has three elements. It begins at the bottom with part of a necklace of precious green stones (chalchihuitl). Moving upward, there are two front teeth with a small amount of gums. This provides the phonetic syllable -tla- that appears in the middle of the name. Finally, at the top is a tonalli symbol, which semantically covers the remainder of the name (-tonac).

Description, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis:

The chalchihuitl is prevalent in Nahuatl hieroglyphs. It often appears as beads that are strung horizontally (different from this one, which is vertical). Alternatively, the chalchihuitl appears as a symbol, usually concentric circles with four tiny additional circles around the outer perimeter and positioned as though on four corners. See some examples of chalchihuitl below, along with examples of tonalli signs. This is the third name Chalchiuhtlatonac to enter this digital collection (as of March 2026). In one, the chalchihuitl sign includes a face much like a sun sign, along with an array of sun rays or solar energy (tonalli) emanating outwardly from the perimeter.

Added Analysis, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Gloss or Text Image:

Gloss/Text Diplomatic Transcription:

juā. chalchiuhtlatonac.

Gloss/Text Normalization:

Juan Chalchiuhtlatonac

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:

deity name/theonym

personal name

phonetic dimensions

title/office

Syntax:

noun(s)

syllable: tla/tlan/tlal (from tlantli)

Writing Features:

compound of phonogram(s) & logogram(s)

Cultural Content & Iconography:

Anatomy, human body parts

Gender (male)

Jewelry, Crowns, or other Adornment

Names (personal and/or theonym)

Religion (Indigenous)

Turquoise or Jadeite/Nephrite

Cultural Content, Credit:

Jeff Haskett-Wood

Colors:

black & white drawing (no color)

Shapes and Perspectives:

frontal view

Parts (compounds or simplex + notation):

Reading Order (Compounds or Simplex + Notation):

upward

Keywords:

jade, jades, piedra verde, piedras verdes, energía solar, dientes, nombres de hombres, men’s names, fonetismo

Glyph or Iconographic Image:

Relevant Nahuatl Dictionary Word(s):

Chalchiuhtlatonac, another name for the divine force, Chalchiuhtlicue, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/Chalchiuhtlatonac
Tlatonac, a political or religious title and a personal name, a “generator of abundance”, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/tlatonac

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation:

otro nombre por Chalchiuhtlicue, o el título de un gobernante o sacerdote Nahua

Spanish Translation, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Image Source:

Available at Codex Vergara, folio 48v, https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b84528032/f104.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:

intrusive period

Historical Contextualizing Image: