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Aztec Pictogram Activity Sheet

The Aztecs used pictograms to write important records, with illustrations representing words, ideas, and concepts. Special illustrators called Tlacuilos were trained for many years in the art of creating pictograms. This document provides 25 pictograms from Aztec codices along with hints about their meanings, with the first one already identified as representing marriage. Readers are tasked with matching the remaining 24 pictograms to their meanings.

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Joe Lop
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79 views3 pages

Aztec Pictogram Activity Sheet

The Aztecs used pictograms to write important records, with illustrations representing words, ideas, and concepts. Special illustrators called Tlacuilos were trained for many years in the art of creating pictograms. This document provides 25 pictograms from Aztec codices along with hints about their meanings, with the first one already identified as representing marriage. Readers are tasked with matching the remaining 24 pictograms to their meanings.

Uploaded by

Joe Lop
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Mexicolore Activity Sheet 1: Puzzling Pictograms!

When the Aztecs wrote stories, laws, songs and other important records in their books (called
'amoxtin' in Nhuatl), they did so by drawing pictograms. Pictograms were illustrations of words
that defined or explained objects, ideas, sounds and even metaphors. Special illustrators were
chosen for their fine, nimble hands and were trained for many years in this art. They were called
Tlacuilos.
On the following pages of this activity sheet you will find some pictograms that can be linked to
the words and hints provided immediately below. They are taken from old codices written either
in Aztec times or after the conquest in the 16th century. Link the pictograms on page 2 to their
meanings on this page. The first meaning is already completed.
MEANING OF PICTOGRAM

A HINT?

PICTOGRAM NUMBER

A. Marriage

Tying the knot.

Pictogram number 4

B. Heart

Aztec sacred hearts had red tips.

C. War

Water and fire: opposing elements.

D. Cave

Caves were the mouths into the underworld.

E. Earthquake

Dominated by the glyph for movement, a large X.

F. Moon

Mesoamericans believed a rabbit lived in the moon.

G. Prickly Pear Cactus

Watch out because it's spiky.

H. Famine

Hungry enough to clutch at your stomach.

I. Stars

The eyes of the night.

J. Comet

A flying serpent.

K. A Good Crop

...means healthy looking plants!

L. Conquest

Spanish conquerors burned down Aztec temples.

M. School

The roof is decorated with shells.

N. Water

See how it swirls.

O. Market

Going 'round in circles.

P. Place or Community

A mountain symbolised a large community.

Q. Mat of Power

He who sits upon it bears an emblem of power.

R. Eclipse

The sun is 'broken' by the moon.

S. Fire Ceremony

Puffs of smoke come from the sacred kindling stick.

T. Snow Storm

Thick and fast, it is deathly.

U. Journey

A journey will be hard on your feet.

V. Washing Clothes

All you need is water and a good scrubbing stone.

W. Rain

Brought forth by the clouds.

X. Speech

A precious speech scroll comes from the lips.

Y. Plague

The rodents are at it again!

10.
1.
18.

11.
2.

19.

12.

3.

20.

13.
4. Marriage (A)

14.

21.

5.

22.

6.

15.
23.
7.

8.

16.

9.

17.

24.

25.

Answer Key:
A

17

14

23

18

21

12

16

19

20

22

10

11

13

15

24

25

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