pipiltin (TK214v)

This painted example of iconography references a group of three Nahua male nobles (pipiltin) of Tepetlaoztoc, near Tetzcoco. They are standing in a three-quarter view, facing toward the viewer’s right. Their feet suggest that they are moving toward the right. Each of the three carries a staff of office. Each staff is a bamboo color and segmented. Each one also carries a hand-held dark gray or brown feather fan. All three wear loincloths with a big of a design on the front, and all wear an additional white, probably cotton cloth around the waist and tied on one hip. They wear sandals with red ties. Their haircut includes bangs, and an overall length to the shoulders but not beyond. Their skin is terracotta colored. The contextualizing image shows what may be a fourth noble.