Xonecuil (MH508r)

Xonecuil (MH508r)
Simplex Hieroglyph

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description: 

This black-line drawing of the simplex glyph for the personal name Xonecuil ("Twisted Leg") is attested here as a man's name. The glyph depicts a somewhat twisted human leg (xonecuilli) in profile. The leg includes some three-dimensional shading, which indicates European artistic influences..

Description, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis: 

This glyph might be phonographic if a different definion of xonecuilli is meant, such as the one that has something to do with a zigzag shaped tortilla or a staff used in religious offerings. Finally, a xonecuilli could reference a constellation, citlalxonecuilli. Also, INAH reports (8 May 2025) that xonecuilli has associations with planet Venus. See the larger discussion of xonecuilli in an article by Ian Mursell about special feasts in Mexicolore.

Added Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Gloss or Text Image: 
Source Manuscript: 
Huexotzinco, Matrícula de (MH)
Date of Manuscript: 

1560

Creator's Location (and place coverage): 

Huejotzingo, Puebla, Mexico

Semantic Categories: 
personal name
phonetic possibilities
Syntax: 
cuil (general tracking)
noun(s)
Writing Features: 
simplex or element as logogram
Cultural Content & Iconography: 
Anatomy, human body parts
Body postures
Celestial Phenomena
Disabilities
Names (personal and/or theonym)
Cultural Content, Credit: 

Jeff Haskett-Wood

Colors: 
black & white drawing (no color)
Shapes and Perspectives: 
facing right
profile view
shading and parallel line hatching
three-dimensionality
twisted or entwined
vertical, upright
Keywords: 

legs, piernas, twisted, retorcido, nombres de hombres, men's names

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

xonecuil(li), twisted foot, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/xonecuilli

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation: 

La Pierna Retorcida

Spanish Translation, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Image Source: 

Matrícula de Huexotzinco, folio 508r, World Digital Library, https://www.loc.gov/resource/gdcwdl.wdl_15282/?sp=95&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).

Historical Contextualizing Image: 
See Also: 

xonecuilli (Mdz16v)

Xonecuil (MH720v)

Cuauhxonecuilatl (Verg38v)

Cuauhxonecuil (Verg43v)

Cuauhxonecuilatl (Verg50v)