xolotl (MH553r)

xolotl (MH553r)
Element from a Compound

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description: 

This black-line drawing of the element for xolotl, carved from the personal name Texolohua, shows the head of a dog in profile. The tattooing or face paint that involves vertical and horizontal lines crossing the head recall the representation of the divine force (or deity) called Xolotl in the Codex Mendoza. Significantly, too, the ears are squared off at the top.

Description, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis: 

In this digital collection, face paint or tattooing has ethnic associations, involving Chichimecs, the Otomí, the Tlaxcalteca, and those who were “different” (e.g. the Tlamaca or Tlamanca). Divine forces, such as Ecatl (or Ehecatl) and Xolotl, also have some face paint or tattoos.

Added Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Source Manuscript: 
Huexotzinco, Matrícula de (MH)
Date of Manuscript: 

1560

Creator's Location (and place coverage): 

Huejotzinco, Puebla

Syntax: 
noun(s)
Writing Features: 
simplex or element as logogram
Cultural Content & Iconography: 
Animals, incl. Birds, Bugs, Insects, Reptiles, etc.
Face Paint or Tattoos
Teeth Protruding/Noticeable
Cultural Content, Credit: 

Jeff Haskett-Wood

Colors: 
black & white drawing (no color)
Shapes and Perspectives: 
facing right
profile view
striped
Museum & Rare Book Comparisons: 
Museum/Rare Book Notes: 

The face wrinkles are clear on this xoloitzcuintli, shown in profile in a photo with Izzy Sánchez holding it. December 22, 2023. Arizona. The lines on the face could also possibly tie in with the tattoo or face paint on the ixiptla of the xolotl.

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

xolo(tl), dog, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/xolotl

Image Source: 

Matrícula de Huexotzinco, folio 533r, World Digital Library. https://www.loc.gov/resource/gdcwdl.wdl_15282/?sp=185&st=image

Image Source, Rights: 

This manuscript is hosted by the Library of Congress and the World Digital Library; used here with the Creative Commons, “Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License” (CC-BY-NC-SAq 3.0).

See Also: 

Texolohua (MH553r)

Xolotl (Mdz51r)

Xolotl (Mdz13v)

Xolotl (Mdz21v)

Xolotl (Mdz20r)

Xolotl (MH638v)