Xoma (Verg21v)

Xoma (Verg21v)
Compound Glyph

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description: 

This black-line drawing of the compound glyph for the personal name Xoma (“Clay Spoon,” attested here as a man’s name) shows a frontal view of a clay spoon (or clay pipe?). The spoon or pipe has shading that makes it three-dimensional. It is what appears to be a dark/black hole at the broader end of the object that makes it appear more like a pipe. Behind this item is an upright left hand.

Description, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis: 

The hand is a phonetic indicator that the ceramic object ends with "-ma." We presume that this name is Xoma and not Xoman, as the gloss might indicate, given the root for the term for clay spoon would not have a final "n." The letter "n" is often intrusive. Some names do end in -man, however, referring to "in the manner of." Still, with "in the manner of a clay spoon," one might expect Xomaman. Regardless, Compare this object with the pipe below that shows smoke swirling up from the bowl. One wonders whether it is a spoon or a pipe that is the referent here.

Added Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Gloss Image: 
Gloss Diplomatic Transcription: 

jua.xomā

Gloss Normalization: 

Juan Xoma (or perhaps Juan Xoman)

Gloss Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Source Manuscript: 
Vergara, Codex (Verg)
Date of Manuscript: 

1539

Creator's Location (and place coverage): 

Tepetlaoztoc, near Tetzcoco

Semantic Categories: 
phonetic dimensions
personal name
Syntax: 
noun(s)
Cultural Content & Iconography: 
Anatomy, human body parts
Ceramics, Pottery
Containers, Dishes, Eating Utensils
Fire, Tobacco, Incense, Smoke
Gender (male)
Names (personal and/or theonym)
Technology (all types), plus Tools
Cultural Content, Credit: 

Jeff Haskett-Wood

Colors: 
black
white/neutral
Shapes and Perspectives: 
horizontal
frontal view
shading and parallel line hatching
three-dimensionality
vertical, upright
Parts (compounds or simplex + notation): 
2
Reading Order (Compounds or Simplex + Notation): 
front to back
Glyph or Iconographic Image: 
Relevant Nahuatl Dictionary Word(s): 

xoma(tli), clay spoon, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/xomatli
ma(itl), hand, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/maitl
-man(i), in the manner of, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/mani-1

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation: 

Cuchillo de Barro

Spanish Translation, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Image Source: 

Codex Vergara, folio 21v, https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b84528032/f50.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.” We would also appreciate a citation to the Visual Lexicon of Aztec Hieroglyphs, https://aztecglyphs.wired-humanities.org/.

Orthography: 
intrusive "n"
Historical Contextualizing Image: 
See Also: 

Tlenamacacazolli (MH537r)

Tlema (MH519r)

Xoma (MH658v)