Tehuiloyocan (Mdz26r)

The common stone (purple and orange) underlines the te-, or the phonetic start to the reading of the place name. It also provides a generic category for the green stone (chalchihuitl) that appears just below it. Since jade or jadeite can be translucent, the chalchihuitl may represent the tehuilotl in this case. The -yo- is a possessive that accompanies the locative suffix -can, together indicating that this place was known for these beautiful stones. The remaining, lower parts of the glyph, including perhaps a red leather strap and some hanging adornments, recall components of something that would have been worn. See the cuauhpilolli and Xocoyol, below, for examples of items that seem to have leather straps.

Other representations of just the chalchihuitl (local jade) have a full red ring around them, which may have something to do here, too, with the partial red ring. The red perimeter for the metaphorical water is like a passage zone to that perceived earthly interior
See our article on red and yellow liners for interiors.

The mottled effect on the green stone, using two shades of green, may intend to convey something of the shape or variable color of the stone as well as swirling water. Local jade was highly prized for its color, like water, which is essential for life. Children were called little green stones, conveying the shared preciosity. Green stones were tribute items that were provided by the commoners to the rulers.