panitl (Verg12v)

panitl (Verg12v)
Element from a Compound

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description: 

This black-line drawing of the element panitl (flag, banner) has been extracted from the compound Tlalticpaque. In that compound, it played a phonetic role, providing the sound for the syllable "pa." Here, we are repeating it as a logogram for flag. This flag is forked, or has a "swallowtail" shape. This shows European influence, considering that autonomous-era flags were simple rectangular. This flag also flies to the viewer's left, leaning to the right slightly, and the pole to which it is attached has a cap on it, which also seems European.

Description, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Source Manuscript: 
Vergara, Codex (Verg)
Date of Manuscript: 

1539

Creator's Location (and place coverage): 

near Tepetlaoztoc, near Tetzcoco

Syntax: 
noun(s)
Writing Features: 
simplex or element as logogram
Cultural Content & Iconography: 
Flags, banners
Cultural Content, Credit: 

Jeff Haskett-Wood

Colors: 
black & white drawing (no color)
Shapes and Perspectives: 
bifurcated
facing left
profile view
pointed (see also spiky)
vertical, upright
Other Cultural Influences: 
Spanish/European
Keywords: 

banderas, heráldica, siglo XVI

Museum & Rare Book Comparisons: 
Museum/Rare Book Notes: 

This representation of a banner carried in the Spanish invasion of Mexico comes from the Codex Azcatitlan. This image has been taken from one page; it is hosted by Wikimedia.

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

pan(itl), flag, banner, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/panitl

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation: 

la bandera

Spanish Translation, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Image Source: 

Codex Vergara, folio 12v, https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b84528032/f32.item.zoom

Image Source, 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/.

See Also: 

Tlalticpaque (Verg12v)

panitl (Mdz20r)

panitl (MH490r)