tonalli (Verg8v)

tonalli (Verg8v)
Element from a Compound

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description: 

This black-line drawing of the element representing tonalli (sun, day, solar-derived animating force) has been taken from the compound glyph for the personal name Acatonal. It has a layered quatrefoil shape with four points and four circles. Counting the center, this is a quincunx, a shape often used to refer to the cardinal directions along with the axis to the celestial realm and the underworld, spaces occupied by the sun during the day and the night (respectively). It could also be seen as a star with vibrance. (See our article about vibrance in glyphs, found on the left navigation bar.)

Description, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Source Manuscript: 
Vergara, Codex (Verg)
Date of Manuscript: 

1539

Creator's Location (and place coverage): 

Tepetlaoztoc, near Tetzcoco

Semantic Categories: 
calendrics
Syntax: 
noun(s)
Cultural Content & Iconography: 
Celestial Phenomena
Gender (male)
Time, Calendar, Frequency
Weather, Climate
Cultural Content, Credit: 

Jeff Haskett-Wood

Colors: 
black & white drawing (no color)
Shapes and Perspectives: 
circle(s) (small, often concentric)
cross (+)
diamond shape(s)
frontal view
pointed (see also spiky)
quincunx or quatrefoil
Keywords: 

suns, soles, days, días, fuerza de energía

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

tonal(li), sun, day, solar-derived animating force, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/tonalli

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation: 

sol, día, o la fuerza derivada del sol que anima a personas y animales

Spanish Translation, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Image Source: 

Codex Vergara, folio 8v, https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b84528032/f24.item.zoom

Image Source, 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/.

See Also: 

Acatonal (Verg8v)

Tonaloxochitl (MH559v)

tonalli (MH559v)

Tonal (MH528v)

Atonal (MH554v)

tonalli (MH565v)

tonalli (MH591v)