Tlayohuallotl (MH557v)

Tlayohuallotl (MH557v)
Simplex Glyph

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description: 

This drawing of the simplex glyph for the personal name Tlayohuallotl (“Darkness” or "Shadow," attested here as a man’s name) shows what appears to be the suggestion of a human head in profile, facing right, and painted entirely in black. This shape appears to include a tiny white eye, a tiny nose, a tiny mouth, and possibly a goatee. What may be hair on the head is somewhat darker black than the face.

Description, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis: 

There may be a suggestion of European influence in this glyph. But it is unique in this database so far (three years into the project). Besides darkness and shadow, it has been translated as gloom. Thus, it may represent emotion or mood. For glyphs that involve entirely black shapes, see some examples below.

Added Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Gloss Image: 
Gloss Diplomatic Transcription: 

pedro. tlayovalotl

Gloss Normalization: 

Pedro Tlayohuallotl

Gloss Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Date of Manuscript: 

1560

Creator's Location (and place coverage): 

Huejotzingo, Puebla, Mexico

Semantic Categories: 
Syntax: 
Cultural Content, Credit: 

Jeff Haskett-Wood

Shapes and Perspectives: 
Other Cultural Influences: 
Keywords: 

oscuridad, sombras, penumbra, mal humor, darkness, shadows, gloom, personality, mood, emotion, emoción, personalidad

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

tlayohuallo(tl), darkness, shadows, gloom, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/tlayohuallotl
tlayohual(li), the darkness of night or some shade, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/tlayohualli

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation: 

Oscuridad

Image Source: 
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: