Tlaxich (MH718r)

Tlaxich (MH718r)
Simplex Glyph

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description: 

This black-line drawing of the simplex glyph for the personal name, Tlaxich (“Crossbow Arrow”), shows a vertical arrow with the tip pointing downward. The tip has three barbs. Near the top of the arrow is a feather.

Description, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis: 

Tlaxich was a popular name for men. This arrow is different from the mitl, as it has a barbed point, suggesting European influence, although some examples of mitl do also have barbs on the points does have barbs on the point. Crossbows were introduced into Mesoamerica by Europeans. Some of them fell into Native hands during battles, along with swords, harquebuses, cannon, metal armor, etc. But even when these weapons were not captured and turned on the invaders, the Nahuas were interested in learning about them and the technology they represented. The translation of "crossbow arrow" comes from Alonso de Molina, and further research may be required to be sure that he was correct.

Added Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Gloss Image: 
Date of Manuscript: 

1560

Creator's Location (and place coverage): 

Huejotzingo, Puebla

Semantic Categories: 
Syntax: 
Cultural Content, Credit: 

Jeff Haskett-Wood

Other Cultural Influences: 
Keywords: 

crossbows, arrows, flechas, ballestas, pasadores, pasador, tlaxichtli, proyectiles, nombres de hombres

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

tlaxich(tli), an arrow or crossbow spear, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/tlaxichtli

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation: 

posiblemente, Flecha de Ballesta o Passador de Ballesta

Spanish Translation, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Image Source: 

Matrícula de Huexotzinco, folio 718r, World Digital Library, https://www.loc.gov/resource/gdcwdl.wdl_15282/?sp=514&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).

Historical Contextualizing Image: