Pinahuiz (Verg50bis-v)

Pinahuiz (Verg50bis-v)
Simplex Hieroglyph

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description: 

This simplex Nahuatl hieroglyph is a black-line drawing of the personal name Pinahuiz (perhaps “Omen Bug”), attested here as a man’s name. This is a bird’s eye view of the bug (possibly a beetle) or spider. It has eight legs showing, the front four going forward and the others going backward. Its back is covered with designs, such as horizontal stripes and rows of dots. It has two mandibles pointing forward on its head. Its eyes bulge slightly on the sides of the head.

Description, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis: 

Each pinahuiztli in this digital collection differs from the others. Unlike the chapulin, the details of pinahuiztli seem not to have been very familiar to the tlacuilos. Also, this one, unlike the other two from the Vergara Codex, does not include the number 4 (nahui) as a phonetic indicator. Perhaps this tlacuilo was more certain of the details and hopeful that readers would know what bug this is without the phonetic clue.

Added Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Gloss or Text Image: 
Gloss/Text Diplomatic Transcription: 

pāblo. pinahuiz

Gloss/Text Normalization: 

Pablo Pinahuiz

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: 
Animals: Insects/Bugs
Gender (male)
Names (personal and/or theonym)
Cultural Content, Credit: 

Jeff Haskett-Wood

Colors: 
black & white drawing (no color)
Shapes and Perspectives: 
bird's eye view
striped
Keywords: 

escarabajos, bicho, bichos, ocho piernas, nombres de hombres, men’s names

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

pinahuiz(tli), a bug with omen associations, or vermin,, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/pinahuiztli

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation: 

Escarabajo Que Toman por Agüero

Spanish Translation, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Image Source: 

Available at Codex Vergara, folio 50bis-v, https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b84528032/f110.item.zoom, accessed 25 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 overbar
intrusive period
Historical Contextualizing Image: 
See Also: 

Pinahuiz (Verg47v)