Aztec script: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 00:09, 4 December 2008

Latest revision as of 07:46, 25 August 2025

(322 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{Short description|Mixed ideographic/phonetic writing system for Nahuatl}}

{{Infobox Writing system

{{Expand Spanish|Escritura mexica|date=May 2022}}

| name = Aztec

{{Infobox Writingwriting system

| type = Pictographic

| name name = Aztec

| languages = [[Nahuatl language|Nahuatl]]

| type type = Pictographic and logosyllabic

| time = Most extant manuscripts from the 16th century.

| languages sisters = [[MixtecNahuatl writinglanguage|MixtecNahuatl]]

| creator sample = Aztecwriting.jpgThe Nahua peoples

| time time = Most extant manuscripts from the 16th century.

| imagesize = 97px

| sisters = [[Mixtec writing|Mixtec]]

| unicode = U+15C00 to U+15FFF (tentative)[http://www.unicode.org/roadmaps/smp/]

| direction = top-to bottom, left-to right

| sample = Aztecwriting.jpg

| imagesize = 97px

}}

{{EducationalAssignment|date=2008 fall semester|link=Wikipedia:School and university projects/LING1100-WritingSystems}}

The '''Aztec''' or '''Nahuatl script''' is a [[pre-Columbian]] [[writing system]] that combines [[ideograph]]ic writing with [[Nahuatl]] specific phonetic logograms and syllabic signs<ref name="Lacadena">{{cite web|last=Lacadena|first=Alfonso|title=Regional Scribal Traditions: Methodological Implications for the Decipherment of Nahuatl Writing|url=http://www.mesoweb.com/pari/publications/journal/804/PARI0804.pdf}}</ref> which was used in central [[Mexico]] by the [[Nahua people]] in the Epiclassic and [[Mesoamerican chronology|Post-classic]] periods.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Escamilla |first=Marlon V. |last2=Fowler |first2=William R. |title=Paisajes rituales nahua-pipiles del postclásico en la Costa del Bálsamo, El Salvador |url=http://portal.amelica.org/ameli/jatsRepo/366/3661944008/html/index.html |journal=Entorno |language=es |issue=53 |pages=67–75}}</ref> It was originally thought that its use was reserved for elites; however, the topographical codices and early colonial catechisms, recently deciphered, were used by ''tlacuilos'' (scribes),<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Corral |first=Aurelio López |date=2011 |title=Los glifos de suelo en códices acolhua de la Colonia temprana: un reanálisis de su significado |url=https://desacatos.ciesas.edu.mx/index.php/Desacatos/article/view/293 |journal=Desacatos. Revista de Ciencias Sociales |language=es |issue=37 |pages=145–162 |doi=10.29340/37.293 |issn=2448-5144|doi-access=free }}</ref> ''macehuallis'' (peasants), and ''[[pochteca]]s'' (merchants).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tribute Roll. |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/2021667610/ |access-date=2024-06-05 |website=Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA}}</ref>

'''Aztec''' or '''Nahuatl writing''' is a [[logographic]] and [[ideographic]] [[pre-Columbian]] [[writing system]] used in central [[Mexico]] by the [[Nahua|Nahua peoples]]. This writing system also manifested phonetic characteristics by using the rebus principle. The writing system was important because it was used primarily for historical, religious-divinatory, and administrative purposes. In addition, the glyphs are seen in codices such as [[Codex Mendoza]], [[Codex Borbonicus]], and [[Codex Osuna]]. However, the exact time period the writing system was used is not clear because the [[conquistadors]] burned the majority of the Aztec codices when they conquered [[Mesoamerica]].

== Origin==

WhileThe theAztec originwriting ofsystem thederives systemfrom iswriting unclear,systems itused isin thoughtCentral toMexico, derivesuch fromas [[Zapotec script]]. [[Mixtec writing]]. is also thought to descend from Zapotec. The first [[Oaxaca]]n inscriptions are thought to be from theencode Zapotec, partially because theof Zapotecnumerical weresuffixes distinct in their usecharacteristic of suffixesthe for[[Zapotec numeralslanguages]].<ref>{{citeJusteson book |author=Justeson(1986, John Sp. |year=1986 |chapter=The Origin of Writing Systems: Preclassic Mesoamerica |pages=437-458}}449)</ref> [[Mixtec writing]] is also thought to descend from the Zapotec.

[[File:Aztec silabary in IPA Lacadena Wichmann 2004.jpg|thumb|Aztec syllabary (according to Lacadena and Wichmann, 2004)]]

==Structure and use==

Aztec was [[pictogram|pictographic]] and [[ideographic]] [[proto-writing]], augmented by phonetic [[Rebus#Examples from history|rebuses]]. It also contained syllabic signs and logograms. There was no alphabet, but puns also contributed to recording sounds of the Aztec language. While some scholars have understood the system not to be considered a complete writing system, this is disputed by others. The existence of logograms and syllabic signs is being documented and a phonetic aspect of the writing system has emerged,<ref name="Lacadena"/> even though many of the syllabic characters have been documented since at least 1888 by Nuttall.<ref name="Zender">{{cite web|last=Zender|first=Marc|title=One Hundred and Fifty Years of Nahuatl Decipherment|url=http://www.mesoweb.com/pari/journal/archive/PARI0804.pdf|work=The PARI Journal}}</ref> There are conventional signs for syllables and logograms which act as word signs or for their rebus content.<ref name="Zender"/> Logosyllabic writing appears on both painted and carved artifacts, such as the [[Tizoc Stone]].<ref>{{cite book|last=VanEssendelft|first=Willem|title=The word made stone: deciphering and mapping the glyphs of the Tizoc stone|date=May 2011 |publisher=DingoFence |___location=Harvard Special Collection|page=86|url=http://dingofence.com/content/VanEssendelftALMThesis_v2_6.pdf|access-date=2012-10-15|archive-date=Feb 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202144522/http://dingofence.com/content/VanEssendelftALMThesis_v2_6.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, instances of phonetic characters often appear within a significant artistic and pictorial context. In native manuscripts, the sequence of historical events is indicated by a line of footprints leading from one place or scene to another.

[[Image:Aztec days.gif|thumb|250px|Aztec Day Signs]]<br />Aztec was [[pictogram]] and [[ideographic]] [[proto-writing]], augmented by phonetic [[rebus]]es. However, unlike the [[Mayan Script]], the Aztec script is not considered a true writing system because there was no corpus of signs or defined rules that needed to be used. Instead, Aztec scribes created individual compositions: each scribe created his own representations of the ideas he wished to convey.<ref name=Prem> {{cite book |author=Carmack, Robert M., Gasco, Janine L., Gossen, Gary H. |year=2007 |chapter=The Legacy of Mesoamerica |pages=426}}</ref><br />However, there only clear corpus of signs that were standardized in Aztec writing were those of a few plants, animals, parts of the human body, natural phenomena, some cultural artifacts, and the names of the first 20 days.<ref>{{cite book |author=Carmack, Robert M., Gasco, Janine L., Gossen, Gary H. |year=2007 |chapter=The Legacy of Mesoamerica |pages=426}}</ref>These glyphs were the only glyphs that were truly considered logographic. In addition, because these signs were considered logographic, these glyphs were understood by peoples from Central Mexico who spoke different language.<ref>{{cite book |author=Carmack, Robert M., Gasco, Janine L., Gossen, Gary H. |year=2007 |chapter=The Legacy of Mesoamerica |pages=426}}</ref><br />

The writing system was also [[ideographic]] because many of the glyphs represented underlying ideas and concepts associated with the glyph. For example, death is represent by a corpse wrapped for burial, night by a black sky and a closed eye, war by a shield and a club, and speech by a little scroll issuing from mouth of the person who is talking. In addition, the concept of motion and walking were indicated by a trail of footprints.<ref>{{cite book |author=Bray, Warwick |year=1968 |chapter=Everyday Life of The Aztecs |pages=93-96}}</ref><br />

The writing system was also [[ideographic]] because manynature of the glyphswriting representedis underlyingapparent ideasin andabstract concepts, associatedsuch withas the glyph. For exampledeath, death is representrepresented by a corpse wrapped for burial,; night, bydrawn as a black sky and a closed eye,; war, by a shield and a club,; and speech, byillustrated as a little scroll issuing from the mouth of the person who is talking. The In addition, the conceptconcepts of motion and walking were indicated by a trail of footprints.<ref name="Bray, Warwick 1968 93-96">{{cite book |author=Bray, Warwick |year=1968 |chaptertitle=Everyday Life of The Aztecs |url=https://archive.org/details/everydaylifeofaz00warw |url-access=registration |pages=[https://archive.org/details/everydaylifeofaz00warw/page/93-96 93]–96|publisher=Dorset Press |isbn=9780880291439 }}</ref><br />

[[Image:Aztec town glyphs.jpg|thumb|300px|Formation of town glyphs from pictograms]]<br />As previously mentioned, the Aztec writing system also shows phonetic characteristics where the same glyph was used to represent the same sound, rather than showing the similarity in meaning. The rebus principle was used for this process. In addition, this is evident in the glyphs of town names.<ref>{{cite book |author=Bray, Warwick |year=1968 |chapter=Everyday Life of The Aztecs |pages=93-96}}</ref> For example, the glyph for Tenochititlan, the Aztec capital, was represented by combining two pictograms: stone (tetl) and cactus (nochtli).

<br />

A glyph could be used as a rebus to represent a different word with the same sound or similar pronunciation. This is especially evident in the glyphs of town names.<ref>{{cite book |author=Spinden, Herbert J. |year=1928 |title=Ancient Civilizations of Mexico and Central America |url=https://archive.org/details/civilizat03spin |pages=[https://archive.org/details/civilizat03spin/page/n228 223]–229|publisher=New York }}</ref> For example, the glyph for Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital, was represented by combining two pictograms: stone ''(te-tl)'' and cactus ''(noch-tli).''

Aztec writing was not read in any particulary order, and the glyphs were not written linearly, but arranged to ideographically represent a scene or a larger composition. At the bottom of the picture would be the ground, and at the top the sky. The picture was not intended to be read, but rather "deciphered".<ref>{{cite book |author=Bray, Warwick |year=1968 |chapter=Everyday Life of The Aztecs |pages=93-96}}</ref>

Aztec Glyphs do not have a set reading order, unlike [[Maya hieroglyphs]]. As such, they may be read in any direction which forms the correct sound values in the context of the glyph. However, there is an internal reading order in that any sign will be followed by the next sign for the following sound in the word being written. They do not jumble up the sounds in a word.

==References==

<references/>

===Numerals===

*{{cite web |url=http://www.ancientscripts.com/aztec.html |title=Aztec |author=Lawrence Lo |work=Ancient Scripts}}

The Aztec numerical system was [[vigesimal]] as was the [[Maya numerals|Mayan numerical system]]. They indicated quantities up to twenty by the requisite number of dots. A flag was used to indicate twenty, repeating it for quantities up to four hundred, while a sign like a fir tree, meaning numerous as hairs, signified four hundred. The next unit, eight thousand, was indicated by an incense bag, which referred to the almost innumerable contents of a sack of cacao beans.<ref>{{cite book |author=Vaillant, George C. |year=1941 |title=Aztecs of Mexico |pages=206–209}}</ref>

*{{cite book |author=Nicholson, H. B. |year=1974 |chapter=Phoneticism in the Late Pre-Hispanic Central Mexican Writing System |editor=E. P. Bensen |title=Mesoamerica Writing Systems |pages=1&ndash;46}}

*{{cite book |author=Prem, Hanns J. |year=1992 |chapter=Aztec Writing |title=Supplement to the Handbook of Middle American Indians, Volume 5: Epigraphy |___location=Austin |publisher=University of Texas Press}}

===Historical===

*{{cite book |author=Thouvenot, Marc |year=2002 |chapter=Nahuatl Script |editor=Anne-Marie Christin |title=A History of Writing: From Hieroglyph to Multimedia |publisher=Flammarion}}

Aztecs embraced the widespread manner of presenting history cartographically. A cartographic map would hold an elaborately detailed history recording events. The maps were painted to be read in sequence, so that time is established by the movement of the narrative through the map and by the succession of individual maps.

Aztecs also used continuous year-count annals to record anything that would occur during that year. All the years are painted in a sequence and most of the years are generally in a single straight line that reads continually from left to right. Events, such as solar eclipses, floods, droughts, or famines, are painted around the years, often linked to the years by a line or just painted adjacent to them. Specific individuals were not mentioned often, but unnamed humans were often painted in order to represent actions or events.<ref>{{cite book |author=Boone, Elizabeth H. |year=1996 |title=Aztecs Imperial Strategies |pages=181–206}}</ref> When individuals are named, they form the majority of the corpus of logosyllabic examples.

== Disappearance ==

Aztec script fell out of use due to colonial, ecclesiastical, and governmental authorities, with the help of the local inhabitants who were indoctrinated in Spanish culture. The evangelizers classified Aztec script as a creation of the devil and considered [[Syllabary|syllabic]] [[Ideogram|ideographic symbols]] as intangible characters. The Old Library of [[Texcoco de Mora|Texcoco]], which according to various contemporary sources, contained a larger literary, technical and historical collection than the Old Library of [[Tenochtitlan]], was destroyed by the colonial government under the orders of the religious [[Juan de Zumárraga]], who collected the Aztec documents to be incinerated.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Arbagi |first=Michael |title=The Catholic Church and the Preservation of Mesoamerican Archives: An Assessment |url=https://minds.wisconsin.edu/bitstream/handle/1793/72319/AI_Vol33_No2_MichaelArbagi1.pdf |access-date=March 7, 2024 |website=minds.wisconsin.edu}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[Aztec codices]]

*[[Damago Soto]]

*[[Hieroglyph]]

*[[Nahuatl language]]

==References==

{{commons|Aztec glyphs}}

{{reflist}}

==Notes==

{{writing systems}}

{{refbegin|indent=yes}}

<!--BEGIN biblio format. -->

* {{cite journal|author=Lacadena, Alfonso|title=A Nahuatl Syllabary|journal=[[The PARI Journal]]|year=2008|volume=VIII|issue=4|url=http://www.mesoweb.com/pari/publications/journal/804/PARI0804.pdf}}

* {{cite journal |author=Justeson, John S. |author-link=John S. Justeson |date=February 1986 |title=The Origin of Writing Systems: Preclassic Mesoamerica |url=http://history.missouristate.edu/chuchiak/template/Justeson.pdf |format=online facsimile |journal=[[World Archaeology]] |volume=17 |issue=3 |___location=London |publisher=[[Routledge & Kegan Paul]] |pages=437–458 |doi=10.1080/00438243.1986.9979981 |issn=0043-8243 |oclc=2243103 |access-date=2009-06-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091122144434/http://history.missouristate.edu/chuchiak/template/Justeson.pdf |archive-date=2009-11-22 |url-status=dead }}

* {{cite book |author=Prem, Hanns J. |year=1992 |chapter=Aztec Writing |title=[[Handbook of Middle American Indians|Supplement to the Handbook of Middle American Indians, VolumeVol. 5: Epigraphy]] |___locationeditor=AustinVictoria R. Bricker (volume ed.), with Patricia A. Andrews |others=[[Victoria Bricker|Victoria Reifler Bricker]] (general editor) |publisher=[[University of Texas Press]] |___location=Austin |pages=53–69|isbn=0-292-77650-0 |oclc=23693597}}

* {{cite book|author=Soustelle, Jacques |author-link=Jacques Soustelle|year=1961|title=Daily Life of the Aztecs: On the Eve of the Spanish Conquest |others=Patrick O’Brian (trans.)|___location=London|publisher=[[Phoenix Books|Phoenix]] |isbn=1-84212-508-7 |oclc=50217224}}

* {{cite journal|author=Zender, Marc|title=One Hundred and Fifty Years of Nahuatl Decipherment|journal=[[The PARI Journal]]|year=2008|volume=VIII|issue=4|url=http://www.mesoweb.com/pari/publications/journal/804/PARI0804.pdf}}

* {{cite journal|author=Nuttall, Zelia|title=On the Complementary Signs of the Mexican Graphic System|journal=[[The PARI Journal]]|year=2008|volume=VIII|issue=4|url=http://www.mesoweb.com/pari/publications/journal/804/PARI0804.pdf}}

* {{cite book|last=VanEssendelft|first=Willem|title=The word made stone: deciphering and mapping the glyphs of the Tizoc stone|date=May 2011 |publisher=DingoFence |___location=Harvard Special Collection|page=86|url=http://dingofence.com/content/VanEssendelftALMThesis_v2_6.pdf|access-date=2012-10-15|archive-date=Feb 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202144522/http://dingofence.com/content/VanEssendelftALMThesis_v2_6.pdf|url-status=dead}}

{{refend}}<!-- END biblio format style -->

==Further reading==

[[Category:Mesoamerican writing systems]]

{{Commons}}

[[Category:Aztec]]

*{{cite web |url=http://www.ancientscripts.com/aztec.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028204843/http://www.ancientscripts.com/aztec.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2017-10-28 |title=Aztec |author=Lawrence Lo |work=Ancient Scripts}}

*{{cite book |author=Nicholson, H. B. |year=1974 |chapter=Phoneticism in the Late Pre-Hispanic Central Mexican Writing System |editor=E. P. Bensen |title=Mesoamerica Writing Systems |pages=1&ndash;461–46}}

*{{cite book |author=Thouvenot, Marc |year=2002 |chapter=Nahuatl Script |editor=Anne-Marie Christin |title=A History of Writing: From Hieroglyph to Multimedia |publisher=Flammarion}}

{{Writings systems of the Americas}}

{{Writingsystem-stub}}

{{list of writing systems}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aztec Writing}}

[[it:Scrittura azteca]]

[[Category:Mesoamerican writing systems]]

[[ru:Ацтекское письмо]]

[[Category:Aztec]]

[[Category:Obsolete writing systems]]

[[Category:Proto-writing]]