cuetzpalin (CQ)

cuetzpalin (CQ)
Element from a Compound

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description: 

The element for a lizard (cuetzpalin) has been carved from the compound place name Cuetzpaltlatzalan. The lizard is shown here in profile, looking to the viewer's left. He is painted a greenish brown. His feet are curled and his tail is fairly straight and somewhat elevated.

Description, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis: 

Lizards are day signs of the Mesoamerican calendars. Because of this role in the calendar, Cuetzpal is a name that some humans held. Lizards they are also prevalent in the landscape, so that might more likely explain their representation in this place name.

Added Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Source Manuscript: 
Quetzalecatzin, Codex (CQ)
Date of Manuscript: 

covers ruling men and women of Tecamachalco through 1593

Creator's Location (and place coverage): 

southern Puebla state

Semantic Categories: 
calendrics
day name
Syntax: 
noun(s)
Cultural Content & Iconography: 
Animals, incl. Birds, Bugs, Insects, Reptiles, etc.
Cultural Content, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Colors: 
brown
green (dark)
Shapes and Perspectives: 
facing left
profile view
Other Cultural Influences: 
Mixtec
Keywords: 

lizards, lagartos, animales, fauna

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

cuetzpal(in), lizard or iguana, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/cuetzpalin

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation: 

el lagarto

Spanish Translation, Credit: 

Ofelia Cruz Morales

Image Source: 

The Codex Quetzalecatzin, aka Mapa de Ecatepec-Huitziltepec, Codex Ehecatepec-Huitziltepec, or Charles Ratton Codex. Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017590521/

Image Source, Rights: 

The Library of Congress, current custodian of this pictorial Mexican manuscript, hosts a digital version on line. It is not copyright protected.

Historical Contextualizing Image: 
See Also: 

Cuetzpaltlatzalan (CQ)

Cuetzpal (MH484r)