Xilopatzac (Verg23r)

Xilopatzac (Verg23r)
Compound Glyph

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description:

This compound Nahuatl hieroglyph is a black-line drawing of the personal name Xilopitzac (perhaps “Smutted Tender Corn Cob”), attested here as a man’s name. It has three elements. The first would be the ear of corn that is still partly wrapped with its husk and that has corn silk coming up off the top. Another element is the flag (pamitl) at the top, flying toward the viewer’s left. Perhaps it is intended to provide the “p” sound. Finally, water (atl) flows at the bottom, providing the final -a sound.

Description, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis:

The glosses in this manuscript do not always line up seamlessly with the visual elements of the hieroglyphs.

Added Analysis, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Gloss or Text Image:

Gloss/Text Diplomatic Transcription:

jua.xillopaçac.

Gloss/Text Normalization:

Juan Xilopatzac

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

phonetic dimensions

Syntax:

noun(s)

Writing Features:

compound of phonogram(s) & logogram(s)

Cultural Content & Iconography:

Corn, Maize

Flags, banners

Gender (male)

Names (personal and/or theonym)

Water

Cultural Content, Credit:

Jeff Haskett-Wood

Colors:

black & white drawing (no color)

Parts (compounds or simplex + notation):

Reading Order (Compounds or Simplex + Notation):

multidirectional

Other Cultural Influences:

Spanish/European

Keywords:

jilote, jilotes, maíz, agua, bandera, banderas, fonetismo, nombres de hombres, men’s names

Glyph or Iconographic Image:

Relevant Nahuatl Dictionary Word(s):

xilo(tl), small, tender, green ear of maize, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/
patzac(tli), something mildewed, blighted, or smutted, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/patzactli

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation:

El Jilote con Huitlacoche (?)

Spanish Translation, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Image Source:

Available at Codex Vergara, folio 23r,
https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b84528032/f53.item.zoom, accessed 22 February 2026. The Vergara is associated with Tepetlaoztoc, in the larger region of Tetzcoco, c. 1539–1543.

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.” We would also appreciate a citation to the Visual Lexicon of Aztec Hieroglyphs, https://aztecglyphs.wired-humanities.org/.

Orthography:

"ç" for z or tz

"ll" for l

intrusive period

Historical Contextualizing Image: