Nahualix (MH488r)

Nahualix (MH488r)
Compound Glyph

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description: 

This black-line drawing of the compound glyph for the personal name Nahualix (“Enchanted Vision,” attested here as a man’s name) shows the early glyph for eye (ixtli), the one that also stands for a star. To the right and left of the heavy upper eyelid are bracketing, small, curving lines that may suggest movement, magic, or special ability, perhaps providing the visual for the shape-changing spirit (nahualli) dimension of the name.

Description, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis: 

While the term nahualli is often represented by a shape that is reminiscent of a caterpillar (which, of course, transforms itself into a butterfly), this one has a focus on the eye. The concept behind this name may share something with the name Tlamao, which is also based on the eye and the special properties of vision, especially as related to "knowing" and wisdom. See below.

Nahuales were perceived as "form-changing shamans" (in the words of James Maffie, 2013, 39), sometimes taking on the attributes or abilities of animals, such as a jaguar, and becoming that creature as a "temporary incarnation of cosmic reality" (Maffie, 40, citing Raymond Fogelson). The term nahualli can refer to the shamanic power of transformation or it can refer to the being into which the shaman transforms, such as an animal, according to James Maffie (Aztec Philosophy, 2014, 38.)

Added Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Gloss Image: 
Gloss Diplomatic Transcription: 

gaspar navallis

Gloss Normalization: 

Gaspar Nahualix

Gloss Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Date of Manuscript: 

1560

Creator's Location (and place coverage): 

Huejotzingo, Puebla, Mexico

Semantic Categories: 
Syntax: 
Cultural Content, Credit: 

Xitlali Torres and Stephanie Wood

Parts (compounds or simplex + notation): 
Reading Order (Compounds or Simplex + Notation): 
Keywords: 

nahuales, ojos, visión mágica, visión encantada

Glyph or Iconographic Image: 
Relevant Nahuatl Dictionary Word(s): 
Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation: 

La Visión del Nahual

Spanish Translation, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

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: