Tollan (Azca13)

This simplex glyph shows the place name for Tollan (modern-day Tula). It has two elements, including a temple (likely a teocalli) in profile, facing right, that has a calli at the top of the stepped structure. The calli has a yellow, thatched roof. The stepped structure has some shading in gray. To the left of this structure is a partially obscured, bell-shaped hill or mountain (likely called a tepetl), with a curly top and a curly lower left end. Across the bottom is the red slit that represents the site where a natural spring (water, atl) could emerge. Water plus hill or mountain might be interpreted as altepetl, a socio-political entity. At the top of the tepetl are five reeds or canes (tolin), which contribute to the place name. They look something like swords, but each one has three round bumps on the left edge. The -tlan (near) suffix to the name is not shown visually in this glyph.