chicuatli (FCbk11f50v)

This iconographic example, featuring a barn owl (chicuatli), is included in this digital collection for the purpose of making comparisons with related hieroglyphs. The term selected for this example comes from the Nahuatl text near the image in the Digital Florentine Codex. There is no gloss, per se. This example shows a common barn owl, which Anderston and Dibble call a small screeching owl. It is standing, but with its left foot in the air, it appears to be walking (indicating movement). It is shown in profile, looking toward the viewer’s right. The feathers form horizontal gray stripes with a small amount of brown in between. Identifying marks include a considerable hook on the upper beak and radiating black lines around the eye. A small amount of shading on this painting suggests three-dimensionality, which would be a result of European artistic influence on this tlacuilo.