Xico (Verg33r)

Xico (Verg33r)
Simplex Glyph

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description: 

This simplex Nahuatl hieroglyph is a black-line drawing of the personal name Xico (“Honeybee” or “Bumblebee”), attested here as a man’s name. It shows the insect in a profile view, facing left. It has four visible legs, two bending forward and two backward. Its wings are dotted, and its body is striped. Other very similar glyphs for the name Xico appear on folio 34v and 36v.

Description, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis: 

Xico is a popular name in this digital collection, with at least five attestations from the Matrícula de Huexotzinco. So, it crosses regional lines. Xico is also involved in place names, such as Xicochimalco.

Added Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Gloss or Text Image: 
Gloss/Text Diplomatic Transcription: 

damia. xicon.

Gloss/Text Normalization: 

Damian Xico

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: 
simplex or element as logogram
Cultural Content & Iconography: 
Animals: Insects/Bugs
Gender (male)
Names (personal and/or theonym)
Cultural Content, Credit: 

Jeff Haskett-Wood

Colors: 
black & white drawing (no color)
Shapes and Perspectives: 
dotted, granular, textured
facing left
profile view
striped
Keywords: 

abejas, insecto, insectos, alas, piernas, nombres de hombres, men’s names

Glyph or Iconographic Image: 
Relevant Nahuatl Dictionary Word(s): 

xico(tli), a large honeybee or bumblebee, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/xicotli

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation: 

Abeja

Spanish Translation, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Image Source: 

Available at Codex Vergara, folio 33r, https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b84528032/f73.item.zoom, accessed 1 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: 
dropped "n"
intrusive "n"
intrusive period
Historical Contextualizing Image: 
See Also: 

Xico (MH483r)

Xico (MH736r)

Xicochimalco (Mdz13r)

Xicochimalco (TR40r)