Tlatolmitl (Verg49r)

Tlatolmitl (Verg49r)
Compound Hieroglyph

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description:

This compound Nahuatl hieroglyph is a black-line drawing of the personal name Tlatolmitl (perhaps “Word-Arrow”), attested here as a man’s name. The first part of this compound is presented semantically with two speech scrolls at the bottom of the glyph. This reading is complemented with two front teeth (tlantli) and some gums, which provide the phonetic tla- syllable. The other phonetic complement to the second part of tlatol- is the partial rubber ball (olli), giving the syllable -ol. The ball has a piece missing presumably to prevent the reading of etl (black bean). Finally, the -mitl (arrow) suffix to the name is given semantically as an actual arrow that pierces one of the teeth. A similar compound for this same name appears on folio 56 recto.

Description, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis:

This is the first example of hieroglyph for the name Tlatolmitl to enter this digital collection (as of April 2026). One wonders whether this name reflects some kind of language that can be hurtful, harmful, and piercing. The elements are clear. Some comparisons of tlatolli and mitl glyphs appear below.

Added Analysis, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Gloss or Text Image:

Gloss/Text Diplomatic Transcription:

juā. tlatolmitl.

Gloss/Text Normalization:

Juan Tlatolmitl

Gloss/Text Analysis, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Source Manuscript:

Vergara, Codex (Verg)

Date of Manuscript:

1539

Creator's Location (and place coverage):

near Tepetlaoztoc, near Tetzcoco

Semantic Categories:

personal name

Syntax:

noun(s)

Writing Features:

compound of phonogram(s) & logogram(s)

Cultural Content & Iconography:

Anatomy, human body parts

Gender (male)

Names (personal and/or theonym)

Scrolls (Speech, Song, etc.)

Weapons, Shields, Armor

Cultural Content, Credit:

Jeff Haskett-Wood

Colors:

black & white drawing (no color)

Shapes and Perspectives:

frontal view

volute(s)

Parts (compounds or simplex + notation):

Reading Order (Compounds or Simplex + Notation):

upward

multidirectional

Keywords:

volutes, dientes, flechas, palabras, lenguaje, idioma, hule, pelota, pelotas, nombres de hombres, men’s names, fonetismo

Glyph or Iconographic Image:

Relevant Nahuatl Dictionary Word(s):

tlatol(li), word, language, discourse, speech, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/tlatolli
mi(tl), arrow or dart, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/mitl

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation:

posiblemente, Palabra-Flecha

Spanish Translation, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Image Source:

Available at Codex Vergara, folio 49r, https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b84528032/f105.item.zoom, accessed 25 March 2026 The Vergara is associated with Tepetlaoztoc, in the larger region of Tetzcoco, c. 1539–1543. “Source gallica.bnf.fr / BnF.” We would also appreciate a citation to the Visual Lexicon of Aztec Hieroglyphs, https://aztecglyphs.wired-humanities.org/.

Image Source, Rights:

Image Rights: The non-commercial reuse of images from the Bibliothèque nationale de France is free as long as the user is in compliance with the legislation in force and provides the citation: “Source gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque nationale de France” or “Source gallica.bnf.fr / BnF.” We would also appreciate a citation to the Visual Lexicon of Aztec Hieroglyphs, https://aztecglyphs.wired-humanities.org/

Orthography:

intrusive period

Historical Contextualizing Image: