Teotlillan (Mdz46r)

This compound glyph represents the place name Teotlillan, which comprises teo (from teotl, divine or sacred force or forces), tlil (from tlilli, black), and, not shown visually, -tlan (the locative suffix). When tlil- combines with -tlan, the t in the middle is dropped, and the result is -tlillan. The building, which might be called calli, has no phonetic function in this place name, but it may represent "place," obviating the need for a visual representation of the -tlan (such as is often portrayed by teeth). The building provides a container for the color black (tlilli). The designs imbedded in the black appear to be quincunxes, symbols with cosmological significance, which may underline the divine or sacred force(s) (teotl) part of the name. The half circle of the teotl glyph is a half of a sun disk. See our glyph for tonatiuh (the sun, a day) for the full disk.