Xiuhnel (Verg29v)

Xiuhnel (Verg29v)
Compound Glyph

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description: 

This compound Nahuatl hieroglyph is a black-line drawing of the personal name Xiuhnel ("Incapable," "Morning Star," or "Cloud Serpent," attested here an a man's name). It consists of a circle filled with mosaic pieces that stands for xihuitl (year and/or turquoise), providing the Xiuh- syllable. Above the mosaic are two black beans (etl), a phonetic complement for the -e- vowel in -nel. Another very similar hieroglyphic compound to this one also appears in the Codex Vergara on folio 32 recto.

Description, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis: 

Xiuhnel is a popular name in the Matrícula de Huexotzinco. A Quick Search for “Xiuhnel” will bring up at least fifteen examples. The diversity of approaches is intriguing, with the Xiuh- syllable coming from xihuitl as “herb” and xihuitl as “turquoise” (tesserate or mosaic pieces, especially). The example, here, from the Codex Vergara is the first one using the circular xihuitl (“year”) sign to enter this collection (as of February 2026).

Added Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Gloss or Text Image: 
Gloss/Text Diplomatic Transcription: 

mīn. xiuhnel.

Gloss/Text Normalization: 

Martín Xiuhnel

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)
syllable: e (from etl, bean)
syllable: xi or xiuh (from xihuitl)
Writing Features: 
compound of phonogram(s) & logogram(s)
Cultural Content & Iconography: 
Food, Eating, Cooking
Gender (male)
Jewelry, Crowns, or other Adornment
Names (personal and/or theonym)
Plants, Flora
Cultural Content, Credit: 

Jeff Haskett-Wood

Colors: 
black & white drawing (no color)
Parts (compounds or simplex + notation): 
2
Reading Order (Compounds or Simplex + Notation): 
upward
Keywords: 

turquesa, turquesas, año, teselas, hierba, hierbas, estrellas, serpientes, nombres de hombres, fonetismo, men’s names

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

Xiuhnel, a name meaning Incapable, Morning Star, or Cloud Serpent, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/xiuhnel

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation: 

Incapaz, La Estrella de la Mañana, o La Serpiente de las Nubes

Spanish Translation, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Image Source: 

Available at Codex Vergara, folio 29v, https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b84528032/f66.item.zoom, accessed 22 February 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/

Historical Contextualizing Image: 
See Also: 

Xiuhnel (MH513r)

Xiuhnel (MH648v)

Xiuhnel (MH772v)

cempohualli xihuitl (Mxnus19)