Ohua (Verg33v)

Ohua (Verg33v)
Simplex Glyph

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description: 

his simplex Nahuatl hieroglyph is a black-line drawing of the personal name Ohua, apparently the apocopated version of ohuatl, a green maize stalk. It is attested here as a man’s name. It shows a maize stalk with four leaves and a tassel at the top that curves off to the left. This simplex is practically identical to the hieroglyph for Ohua (written there as Ohuan, with the intrusive -n) that appears on folio 36 recto.

Description, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis: 

Ohua, Ohuaton, and Ohuatl are all personal names found in the Matrícula de Huexotzinco, and ohuatl also plays a role in one place name, Ohuapan (Mdz37r). The iconography of ohuatl can have maize cobs, but it most typically has tassels (flowers). Because ohuatl can also refer to cane, sometimes it is shown as segmented.

Added Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Gloss or Text Image: 
Gloss/Text Diplomatic Transcription: 

jua. ohua.

Gloss/Text Normalization: 

Juan Ohua

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: 
personal name
Syntax: 
noun(s)
Writing Features: 
simplex or element as logogram
Cultural Content & Iconography: 
Agriculture, Gardens, Stock Raising
Corn, Maize
Flowers
Gender (male)
Names (personal and/or theonym)
Plants, Flora
Cultural Content, Credit: 

Jeff Haskett-Wood

Colors: 
black & white drawing (no color)
Shapes and Perspectives: 
curving, curvy, curved
Keywords: 

tallos, borlas de maíz, mazorca, mazorcas, nombres de hombres, men’s names

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

oahua(tl), a green maize stalk, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/ohuatl

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation: 

Tallo de Maíz Verde

Spanish Translation, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Image Source: 

Available at Codex Vergara, folio 33v, https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b84528032/f74.item.zoom, accessed 1 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: 
See Also: 

Ohua (MH564r)

Ohuaton (MH816v)

Ohuatl (MH639v)

Ohuapan (Mdz37r)