ecailacatzcozcayo (FCbk8f34r)

This iconographic example, featuring windswirl (ecailacatzcozcayo, or ehcailacatzcozcayoh, with the glottals stops) is included in this digital collection for the purpose of making potential comparisons with related hieroglyphs. The term selected for this example comes from the keywords chosen by the team behind the Digital Florentine Codex. There is no gloss. This example shows a warrior’s shield, where the entire circular part is filled with a large swirl. Given that the start of the name eca- connects with wind (ehecatl), the swirl seems to have a whirlwind association. But, this area with the swirl is painted turquoise blue, suggesting preciosity and/or an association with water, such as a whirlpool. Either way, swirls were special in Nahuas’ viewpoint, and one of their prime sacred forces, Quetzalcoatl, was connected with both wind and rain. He also wore a conical hat, albeit one with an ocelot-sking. The bottom of the shield has two layers of fringe, one that is rather rectangular and painted with yellow and added red dots. The other, extending below that, are what appear to be the rounded ends of wing feathers, red and white.