tlemaitl (FCbk8f46r)

This iconographic example, featuring an incense ladle (tlemaitl) is included in this digital collection for the purpose of making potential comparisons with related hieroglyphs. The term selected for this example comes from the text on the same page of the Digital Florentine Codex. This example shows a side view of a clay censer, like a large pottery spoon. The bowl of the spoon has many red dots, suggestive of bits of incense glowing red, on fire. The contextualizing image shows two men in the scene, each one with a tlemaitl, and the text refers to “their incense ladles.” These men wear blue cloaks with bone symbols on them, apparently referring to fasting. The setting is one involving various activities in service of the divine force, Huitzilopochtli. Our Online Nahuatl Dictionary gives an example of a use of the tlemaitl in honoring the four cardinal directions, culminating with the censer being thrown into a hearth by way of making an offering.