202 



MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA 



lands and palms for the lowlands. The day or the year 

 in which took place the foundation of the town or what- 

 ever event is intended to be recorded is usually placed in 

 conjunction with the hieroglyph or picture. Conquest is 

 indicated by a place name hieroglyph with a spear 

 thrust into it or by a temple on fire, while warfare is a 

 shield and bundle of lances encircled by footprints. 



tlcn from tlantli, teeth 



mix from mixtla, cloud 



cal from calli, house 



Fig. 72. Phonetic Elements derived from Pictures and used in 

 Mexican Plaee^Name Hieroglyphs. 



Caltepec 



Itztepec 



Atepec 



Pantepec 



<w> 



Itztlan Peclatlan 



Fig. 73. Aztecan Place Names. 



L^Q^J 



Tecalco 



A few examples of Nahuan hieroglyphs will now be 

 given to illustrate this interesting method of writing. 

 It must be remembered that there is nothing in the 

 nature of a connected narrative. The hieroglyphs or 

 word pictures are limited to geographical and personal 



