30 May 2025 / 10 House
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Find out moreWhat was the Aztec symbol for turquoise?
The Aztec symbol for turquoise
ORIGINAL QUESTION received from - and thanks to - Jose Ramon Morales: What is the symbol for turquoise? What did turquoise signify to the Mexica/Aztecs? And how do you say “turquoise flower” in Nahuatl for a girl’s name? (Answered by Ian Mursell/Mexicolore)
You can see the glyph for turquoise here. It’s as simple and beautifully symmetrical - in the shape of a ‘quincunx’ - as those of gold, movement etc. It has been called ‘the cross of Quetzalcóatl’.
The links below will reveal more about the value of turquoise to the Mexica (Aztecs). Turquoise was one of the most treasured gemstones of ancient Mesoamerica, and was valued in part for its rareness (it came largely from what it now the SW United States) and in part for its natural beauty and associations with life-giving water, with calendars and, surprisingly, with fire (perhaps thanks to the deep blue colour at the heart of intense flames).
’Turquoise Flower’ in Náhuatl would be xiuhxochitl.
Picture sources:-
• Left: scanned from Aztec Art by Esther Pasztory, Harry N. Abrams, New York, 1983
• Right: photo by Ian Mursell/Mexicolore
Learn a little more about the importance of the colour turquoise...Turquoise MosaicsThe properties of conch shell in making turquoise mosaics
Comments (2)
G
Gael
1st Jul 2013
Just reporting broken links on the further Reading section on this page.
Saludos.
M
Mexicolore
Thanks, Gael! Now fixed...
J
Jose Ramon
3rd Nov 2012
Thank you for answering my question/s and keep up the good work on this site.
The Aztec symbol for turquoise
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