chiucnahui xihuitl (CQ)

chiucnahui xihuitl (CQ)
Notation

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description: 

This notation shows a horizontal row of nine turquoise blue circles, which refer to a period of nine years (chiucnahui xihuitl).

Description, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis: 

The color (xihuitl) of these circles tells us that they are years, given that the word for blue-green and the word for year are homophones. The gloss also confirms this. It should be noted that the gloss has a word crossed out, and the number ten (matlactli) is written in a different hand. The original number (probably nine, chiucnahui) has been changed, perhaps when the manuscript was altered sometime after its original creation. Alternatively, perhaps it represents a correction of an error in counting that someone encountered. (Mary Elizabeth Houde has discovered scientific evidence on the codex of various amendments. Personal communication, January 2023.)

Added Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Gloss Image: 
Gloss Diplomatic Transcription: 

matlactli xiuitl

Gloss Normalization: 

matlactli xihuitl

Gloss Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Source Manuscript: 
Quetzalecatzin, Codex (CQ)
Date of Manuscript: 

covers ruling men and women of Tecamachalco through 1593

Creator's Location (and place coverage): 

southern Puebla state

Semantic Categories: 
homophony, rebus
numbers
phonetic dimensions
Syntax: 
noun(s)
visual plural (multiples of objects)
Writing Features: 
undetermined yet
Cultural Content & Iconography: 
Numbers, Math
Time, Calendar, Frequency
Cultural Content, Credit: 

Randall Rodríguez and Stephanie Wood

Colors: 
blue (turquoise)
Shapes and Perspectives: 
circle(s) (small, often concentric)
circle, circular or rounded
Other Cultural Influences: 
Mixtec
Keywords: 

mahtlactli, number, numbers, número, números, years, años, xiuhpohualli, turquesa, xihuitl

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

chiucnahui, nine, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/chiucnahui

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation: 

nueve

Spanish Translation, Credit: 

Randall Rodríguez

Image Source: 

The Codex Quetzalecatzin, aka Mapa de Ecatepec-Huitziltepec, Codex Ehecatepec-Huitziltepec, or Charles Ratton Codex. Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017590521/

Image Source, Rights: 

The Library of Congress, current custodian of this pictorial Mexican manuscript, hosts a digital version online. It is not copyright protected.

Historical Contextualizing Image: