yaotl (MH483r)

yaotl (MH483r)
Simplex Glyph

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description: 

This simplex glyph for the noun yaotl (enemy) doubles as the simplex of the personal name Yaotl ("The Combatant"). It is a circle with a white cross dividing it into four parts. These parts are colored in with black paint or black ink. The result is a war shield.

Description, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis: 

The Indigenous war shield was round with feathers coming off the bottom. This shield shows some European influences. See, for example, the notable crosses on the Savoy and Genoa coats of arms.

Added Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Gloss Image: 
Gloss Diplomatic Transcription: 

yaotl

Gloss Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

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

1560

Creator's Location (and place coverage): 

Huejotzingo, Puebla

Cultural Content & Iconography: 
Weapons, Shields, Armor
Colors: 
black & white drawing (no color)
Shapes and Perspectives: 
quincunx or quatrefoil
cross (+)
circle, circular or rounded
Other Cultural Influences: 
Spanish/European
Glyph or Iconographic Image: 
Relevant Nahuatl Dictionary Word(s): 

yao(tl), enemy, combatant, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/yaotl

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation: 

El Combatiente

Spanish Translation, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Image Source: 

Matrícula de Huexotzinco, folio 483r, World Digital Library, https://www.loc.gov/resource/gdcwdl.wdl_15282/?sp=45&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: 

Yaotl (MH662r)