Xoxocoyol (Verg40r)

Xoxocoyol (Verg40r)
Compound Glyph

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description:

This compound Nahuatl hieroglyph is a black-line drawing of the personal name Xoxocoyol (“Sorrel”), the name of a famous Mexica ruler. It is attested here as the name of a macehualli, a tribute payer’s name. The compound includes two elements, a sorrel plant (called both xocoyolli or xoxocoyolli) and a bell (coyolli). The bell is a phonetic complement that helps the reader know which plant is shown, providing half the name of the plant in two syllables read phonetically.

Description, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis:

According to ethnobotanist Richard Tan, xocoyoles (as the term has been Hispanized) are "a large class of plants with a characteristic sourness, used to flavor dishes," although they can also be enjoyed by just munching on the leaves when one is out in the field. He says they are also referred to in Spanish as agritos, because of their sour taste. He adds that “[m]any Begonia species are xocoyoles, but many edible Oxalis species are, too." (Personal communication 9 March 2022.)

Added Analysis, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Gloss or Text Image:

Gloss/Text Diplomatic Transcription:

fran^co. xoxocoyol

Gloss/Text Normalization:

Francisco Xoxoyol

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)

reduplication (in gloss/text)

syllables/two: coyol (from coyolli, bell)

Writing Features:

compound of phonogram(s) & logogram(s)

Cultural Content & Iconography:

Gender (male)

Names (personal and/or theonym)

Plants, Flora

Cultural Content, Credit:

Jeff Haskett-Wood

Colors:

black & white drawing (no color)

Shapes and Perspectives:

bell-shaped (upright)

frontal view

Parts (compounds or simplex + notation):

Reading Order (Compounds or Simplex + Notation):

downward

Keywords:

plantas, alazán, campanilla, campanillas, campana, campanas, cascabel, cascabeles, jingle bells, nombres de hombres, men’s names, fonetismo

Glyph or Iconographic Image:

Relevant Nahuatl Dictionary Word(s):

xocoyol(li), sorrel or woodsorrel, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/xocoyolli
xoxocoyol(li), sorrel or woodsorrel, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/xoxocoyolli
xococ, something sour, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/xococ
coyol(li), a bell, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/coyolli

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation:

Alazán, Jojocoyol, o Xocoyole

Spanish Translation, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Image Source:

Available at Codex Vergara, folio 40r, https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b84528032/f87.item.zoom, accessed 10 March 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: