tlacochtli (Mdz65r)

tlacochtli (Mdz65r)
Element from a Compound

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description:

This element for a type of projectile (tlacochtli), such as an arrow, spear, or javelin, has been carved from the compound glyph for the title Tlacochcalcatl. It consists of three vertical arrows, yellow in their shafts (apparently made from the acatl plant) and the middle one is segmented like bamboo or carrizo. Each shaft decorated with a gray-purple feather (probably from an eagle's wing) and a white down feather.

Description, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis:

The reason for a group of three tlacochtli is unclear. In the original compound, they are penetrating the roof of a building. Hence, their points are not visible.

Added Analysis, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Source Manuscript:

Mendoza/Mendocino, Codex (Mdz)

Date of Manuscript:

c. 1541, or by 1553 at the latest

Creator's Location (and place coverage):

Mexico City

Syntax:

noun(s)

Writing Features:

simplex or element as logogram

Cultural Content & Iconography:

Feathers

Plants, Flora

War or Conflict

Weapons, Shields, Armor

Cultural Content, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Colors:

purple (light)/lavender

white/neutral

yellow or golden

Shapes and Perspectives:

segmented

vertical, upright

Keywords:

dardas, saetas, arrows, flechas, feathers, plumas, reeds, cañas, jabalinas, lanzas

Glyph or Iconographic Image:

Relevant Nahuatl Dictionary Word(s):

tlacoch(tli), a type of projectile, such as an arrow, spear, or javelin, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/tlacochtli

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation:

una flecha

Image Source:

Codex Mendoza, folio 65 recto, https://digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/objects/2fea788e-2aa2-4f08-b6d9-648c00...

Image Source, Rights:

Original manuscript is held by the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, MS. Arch. Selden. A. 1; used here with the UK Creative Commons, “Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License” (CC-BY-NC-SA 3.0)