zolin (MH508r)

zolin (MH508r)
Element from a Compound

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description: 

This black-and-white painting of an element from the compound glyph Tecuhzol represents a quail (zolin). The glyphic element appears in the form of a bird's head in profile, looking toward the viewer's left. Its feathers are patches of black and white.

Description, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis: 

The quail had a role in the religious life of the Nahuas, largely serving as offerings. Their remains are very prevalent in the finds at the Templo Mayor, and they are prominent in the Mixtecs' Codex Nuttall. For further information see Elena Mazzetto, "Quail in the Religious Life of the Ancient Nahuas", en Milbrath, Susan y Elizabeth Baquedano (coords.), 2023, Birds and Beasts of Ancient Mesoamerica. Animal Symbolism in the Postclassic Period, Denver, University Press of Colorado, pp. 200-219.

Added Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

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

1560

Creator's Location (and place coverage): 

Huejotzingo, Puebla, Mexico

Syntax: 
noun(s)
Cultural Content & Iconography: 
Animals, incl. Birds, Bugs, Insects, Reptiles, etc.
Feathers
Gifts, Offerings, Sacrifice
Religion (Indigenous)
Cultural Content, Credit: 

Jeff Haskett-Wood

Colors: 
black
white/neutral
Shapes and Perspectives: 
facing left
pointed (see also spiky)
spotted or mottled
Keywords: 

quail, birds, pájaros

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

zol(in), quail, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/zolin

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).

See Also: 

Tecuhzol (MH508r)

Zolin (MH526r)

zolin (MH514r)

Zolin (MH616v)

Zolin (MH625v)