Zayol (Verg27v)

Zayol (Verg27v)
Simplex Glyph

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description: 

This compound Nahuatl hieroglyph is a black-line drawing of the personal name Zayol (“A Fly”), attested here as a man’s name. This is a ¾ view of a fly with four visible legs (somewhat bent or curved), two wings, two eyes, and two antennae. The antennae have some curves to them. The oval-shaped wings have a mesh pattern.

Description, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis: 

Two fairly similar simplex glyphs of the name Zayol also appear in the Matrícula de Huexotzinco (below), and another one also comes from this manuscript. So the name transcended regional boundaries.

Added Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Gloss or Text Image: 
Gloss/Text Diplomatic Transcription: 

marcos. çayol.

Gloss/Text Normalization: 

Marcos Zayol

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
Syntax: 
noun(s)
Writing Features: 
simplex or element as logogram
Cultural Content & Iconography: 
Animals: Insects/Bugs
Gender (male)
Names (personal and/or theonym)
Cultural Content, Credit: 

Jeff Haskett-Wood

Colors: 
black & white drawing (no color)
Shapes and Perspectives: 
3/4 view
facing left
Keywords: 

insecto, insectos, moscas, nombres de hombres, Zaol, nombres de hombres, men’s names

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

zayol(in), a fly, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/zayolin

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation: 

Mosca

Spanish Translation, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Image Source: 

Available at Codex Vergara, folio 27v, https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b84528032/f62.item.zoom, accessed 22 February 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/

Orthography: 
"ç" for z or tz
intrusive period
Historical Contextualizing Image: 
See Also: 

Zayol (MH642v)

Zayol (MH641v)

Zayol (Verg26v)