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). There is a slight separation between the first eight (if we read from left to right) and the ninth (at the right end of the row).

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 on the manuscript. 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: 
numbers
homophony, rebus
Syntax: 
noun(s)
Cultural Content & Iconography: 
Numbers, Math
Time, Calendar, Frequency
Cultural Content, Credit: 

Randall Rodríguez and Stephanie Wood

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

numbers, 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: