Xoma (Verg24v)

Xoma (Verg24v)
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? Or an animal snout?). 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 name 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. Another idea possibly worth pursuing is -texxoma, one’s snout.

Added Analysis, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Gloss or Text Image:

Gloss/Text Diplomatic Transcription:

jua.xoman.

Gloss/Text Normalization:

Juan Xoma (or Juan Xoman)

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: ma or man (from maitl, hand)

Writing Features:

compound of phonogram(s) & logogram(s)

Cultural Content & Iconography:

Anatomy, human body parts

Fire, Tobacco, Incense, Smoke

Gender (male)

Names (personal and/or theonym)

Pottery, Earthenware

Technology (all types), plus Tools

Cultural Content, Credit:

Jeff Haskett-Wood

Colors:

black & white drawing (no color)

Shapes and Perspectives:

shading and parallel line hatching

three-dimensionality

Parts (compounds or simplex + notation):

Reading Order (Compounds or Simplex + Notation):

front to back

Other Cultural Influences:

Spanish/European

Keywords:

cerámica, cucharas, pipa, pipas, fonetismo, nombres de hombres, men’s names

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
-texxoma, muzzle or snout, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/texxoma

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation:

posiblemente, Cuchara de Barro

Spanish Translation, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Image Source:

Available at Codex Vergara, folio 24v, https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b84528032/f56.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:

dropped "n"

intrusive "n"

intrusive period

Historical Contextualizing Image: