Nentequitl (MH627v)

Nentequitl (MH627v)
Compound Glyph

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description:

This black-line drawing of the compound glyph for the personal name Nentequitl ("Labor in Vain") is attested here as a man's name. The glyph shows a nenetl (deity image or doll) holding an agricultural tool that has the semantic value of tequitl (work). The doll is dressed in a skirt and has two squared-off protrusions on its head, which could symbolize the neaxtlahualli hairstyle of women. The doll holds the digging stick at an angle across its body.

Description, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis:

The black tool the female figurine holds recalls two things, one phonetic and one logographic. The color and rectangular shape suggest an obsidian blade, which is used to cut (tequi). For a photo of a cache of obsidian from c. 1400 in Tlatelolco, see this INAH link. But the way it is being held, it is reminiscent of the huictli, an agricultural tool and symbol of work (tequitl). So, this compound glyph could be partially or fully phonographic.

Added Analysis, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Gloss Image:

Gloss Diplomatic Transcription:

fran^co,
nētequitl

Gloss Normalization:

Francisco Nentequitl

Gloss Analysis, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Source Manuscript:

Huexotzinco, Matrícula de (MH)

Date of Manuscript:

1560

Creator's Location (and place coverage):

Huejotzingo, Puebla

Semantic Categories:

personal name

phonetic dimensions

phonetic possibilities

Syntax:

noun(s)

Writing Features:

compound of phonogram(s) & logogram(s)

Cultural Content & Iconography:

Agriculture, Gardens, Stockraising

Gender (female)

Gender (male)

Labor Issues

Names (personal and/or theonym)

Religion (Indigenous)

Stones, Rocks, Lapidary, Masonry

Technology (all types), plus Tools

Toys

Cultural Content, Credit:

Jeff Haskett-Wood

Colors:

black & white drawing (no color)

Shapes and Perspectives:

diagonal or angled

vertical, upright

Parts (compounds or simplex + notation):

Reading Order (Compounds or Simplex + Notation):

back to front

Keywords:

work, trabajo, labor, laboral, flojo, flojería, cut, cortar, obsidian blade, hoja de obsidiana, deity, ixiptla, deidades, deities, statues, estatuas, esculturas, nombres de hombres

Glyph or Iconographic Image:

Relevant Nahuatl Dictionary Word(s):

nene(tl), deity image, doll, female genitals, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/nenetl
tequi(tl), work, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/tequitl
nentequi(tl), useless work, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/nentequitl

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation:

Trabajo en Vano, o Trabajador Inútil

Spanish Translation, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Image Source:

Matrícula de Huexotzinco, folio 627v, World Digital Library, https://www.loc.gov/resource/gdcwdl.wdl_15282/?sp=337st=image.

Image Source, Rights:

This manuscript is hosted by the Library of Congress and the World Digital Library; used here with the Creative Commons, “Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License” (CC-BY-NC-SAq 3.0).

Historical Contextualizing Image: