tecpatl (CQ)

tecpatl (CQ)
Element from a Compound

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description: 

This flint knife (tecpatl) has been carved from the compound hieroglyph (with notation) for the personal name (a date) Ome Tecpatl. We see a leaf-shaped (or marquise shaped) red and white blade, leaning slightly to the viewer's right. The red is the upper portion, and it is separated from the lower white portion by a diagonal line.

Description, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis: 

The tecpatl was a calendrical sign, which testifies to its religious significance. The person bearing this name was probably born on the indicated date, which had divinatory associations.

Added Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Source Manuscript: 
Quetzalecatzin, Codex (CQ)
Date of Manuscript: 

covers ruling men and women of Tecamachalco through 1593

Creator's Location (and place coverage): 

southern Puebla state

Semantic Categories: 
calendrics
day name
year name
Syntax: 
noun(s)
Cultural Content & Iconography: 
Gifts, Offerings, Sacrifice
Religion (Indigenous)
Stones, Rocks, Lapidary, Masonry
Technology (all types), plus Tools
Time, Calendar, Frequency
Weapons, Shields, Armor
Colors: 
red
white/neutral
Shapes and Perspectives: 
diagonal or angled
leaf, marquise, pointed oval
pointed (see also spiky)
vertical, upright
Other Cultural Influences: 
Mixtec
Keywords: 

knives, blades, flint, navajas, cuchillos, calendarios

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

tecpa(tl), obsidian knife or blade, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/tecpatl

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation: 

el pedernal

Image Source: 

The Codex Quetzalecatzin, aka Mapa de Ecatepec-Huitziltepec, Codex Ehecatepec-Huitziltepec, or Charles Ratton Codex. Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017590521/

Image Source, Rights: 

The Library of Congress, current custodian of this pictorial Mexican manuscript, hosts a digital version online. It is not copyright protected.

Historical Contextualizing Image: 
See Also: 

Ome Tecpatl (CQ)

Ome Tecpatl (Mdz2r)

tecpatl (Mdz8r)

tecpatl (Mdz13r)

tecpatl (Mdz27r)