oztomecatl (FCbk10f42v)

This iconographic example, featuring an imperial vanguard merchant (oztomecatl), is included in this digital collection for the purpose of making comparisons with related hieroglyphs. The term selected for this example comes from the text on the same page in the Digital Florentine Codex. There is no gloss, per se. This example shows a vanguard merchant in profile, facing right, and still in the act of walking, with his legs far apart. He has apparently walked along the winding road that disappears off in the distance behind him. He carries a large load on a frame (cacaxtli) made for such a purpose. The bundle is covered with a woven mat (petlatl), and its contents are not visible. It is tied with ropes or cords to the wooden frame of the cacaxtli. A bird with wings spread stands upon the top of the bundle. On the lower end of the bundle there is a large vertical stone, with curling ends and diagonal stripes, alternating tan and black or dark brown. Perhaps the bird (tototl) and stone (tetl) are a remnant of hieroglyphic writing, or perhaps the stone says something about the contents or the weight of the bundle. The man wears a white loincloth (maxtlatl) and white sandals (cactli). His right hand holds the wood at the top of the pack frame. The contextualizing image shows that this oztomecatl is arriving at a building with a European architectural style. Curiously, a man (friar? enslaved person?) seems to be lying inside the entrance, on his side, facing outward.