tzompantli (TR26r)

tzompantli (TR26r)
Element from a Compound

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description:

This element for a skull rack (tzompantli) shows a rectangular, wooden (judging from the tan color), H-shaped structure in a frontal view and sitting on a white platform. The rack only has one skull, gray with black details, strung on a cross bar at about ear level, looking toward the viewer. At least four upper teeth are visible. The lower jaw seems to be missing.

Description, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis:

Compare this skull to some simplex glyphs, below, where skulls stand for the personal name, Miquiz. They also lack the lower jaws.

Added Analysis, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Source Manuscript:

Telleriano-Remensis, Codex (TR)

Date of Manuscript:

ca. 1550–1563

Creator's Location (and place coverage):

Mexico City

Syntax:

noun(s)

Cultural Content & Iconography:

Anatomy, human body parts

Death, decay, decomposition

Gifts, Offerings, Sacrifice

Religion (Indigenous)

Technology (all types), plus Tools

Wood, wooden things

Cultural Content, Credit:

Jeff Haskett-Wood

Colors:

Shapes and Perspectives:

frontal view

Keywords:

skulls, cráneos, death, muerte, technology, tecnología, wood, madera

Glyph or Iconographic Image:

Relevant Nahuatl Dictionary Word(s):

tzompan(tli), skull rack, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/tzompantli

Image Source:

Telleriano-Remensis Codex, folio 26 recto, MS Mexicain 385, Gallica digital collection, https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b8458267s/f77.item.zoom

Image Source, 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.”