Tetzauh (MH651r)

Tetzauh (MH651r)
Compound Glyph

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description: 

This black-line drawing of the compound glyph for the personal name Tetzauh (perhaps "Omen" attested here as a man's name) shows a horizontal stone (tetl) with its classic curling ends and its diagonal division between dark and light. The stone provides the phonetic start to the name Tetzauh. In front of the stone is a spindle (which brings to mind the occupation of spinner, tzauhqui, and provides the phonetic ending to the name -tzauh.

Description, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis: 

Glyphs for the name Tetzauh can vary considerably. It is a challenge to draw an "omen." But, beyond that, perhaps an ecclesiastical presence in the region led to some self-censorship behind this glyph, which is fully phonographic, perhaps disguising the meaning.

Added Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Gloss Image: 
Source Manuscript: 
Huexotzinco, Matrícula de (MH)
Date of Manuscript: 

1560

Creator's Location (and place coverage): 

Huejotzingo, Puebla

Semantic Categories: 
personal name
phonetic dimensions
Syntax: 
noun(s)
Writing Features: 
compound fully phonographic
Cultural Content & Iconography: 
Gender (male)
Names (personal and/or theonym)
Stones, Rocks, Lapidary, Masonry
Technology (all types), plus Tools
Textiles, Clothing, Hats, Regalia
Cultural Content, Credit: 

Jeff Haskett-Wood

Colors: 
black & white drawing (no color)
Shapes and Perspectives: 
frontal view
pointed (see also spiky)
shading and parallel line hatching
Parts (compounds or simplex + notation): 
2
Reading Order (Compounds or Simplex + Notation): 
back to front
Keywords: 

husos, bobinas, espirales, textiles, nombres de hombres

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

tetzahui(tl), a frightening thing, an omen, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/tetzahuitl
te(tl), stone, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/tetl-0
tzahua, to spin, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/tzahua
tzauhqui, a spinner, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/tzauhqui
tzahualiz(tli), the act of spinning (such as yarn or thread), https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/tzahualiztli

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation: 

Presagio

Spanish Translation, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Image Source: 

Matrícula de Huexotzinco, folio 651r, World Digital Library, https://www.loc.gov/resource/gdcwdl.wdl_15282/?sp=384&st=image

Image Source, Rights: 

This manuscript is hosted by the Library of Congress and the World Digital Library; used here with the Creative Commons, “Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License” (CC-BY-NC-SAq 3.0).

Orthography: 
"ç" for z or tz
Historical Contextualizing Image: 
See Also: 

Tetzauh (MH592r)

Tetzauh (MH627v)

Tetzauhcihuatl (MH607r)

malacatl (MH504v)

Tzauhtica (MH492r)

tzauhqui (MH559r)

tzahualcaxitl (Mdz58r)

Tetzauh (MH795r)