tetzitzicazhuia (FCbk10f31r)

This iconographic example, featuring a punishment with stinging nettles (tetzitzicazhuia) that is being administered by a female ruler (tlatocacihuatl/tlahtocacihuatl), is included in this digital collection for the purpose of making comparisons with related hieroglyphs. The term selected for this example comes from the text on the same page as the image in the Digital Florentine Codex. There is no gloss, per se. This example shows a group of three Nahua women. Two are dressed in the huipilli blouse or tunic and a long skirt. These fabrics have shading that gives them a three-dimensionality (a European artistic style). The woman in the middle is partially undressed, and the woman on the right (the tlatocacihuatl, or ruling woman) is rubbing stinging nettle (tzitzicaztli) leaves on her bare back. The text explains that the good tlatocacihuatl is a “corrector, a punisher, a chastiser, a reprimander,” who keeps order with a firm hand. Without reviewing the text, one might think this was a healing ceremony. But the punishment involving nettles was a common one. The contextualizing image shows the ruling woman in a completely different light. She is sitting pointing (mapilhuia, or mahpilhuia, with the added glottal stop) with her left index finger at what seems to be a mountain with a cave or crater. The side of the mountain nearest her has what appears to be an upright human hand forming part of the shape for the cave or crater. The other woman, with whom the tlatocacihuatl is communicating, has her eyes closed and a hand up to one eye, as though perhaps wiping away a tear.