Cuetzpaltlatzalan (CQ)

Cuetzpaltlatzalan (CQ)
Compound Glyph

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description:

This compound glyph for the place name Cuetzpaltlatzalan consists of a brown mountain with two peaks, and a greenish-brown lizard (cuetzpalin) in the gorge (tlatzalan) between the peaks. On top of each peak is what appears to be a green nopalli (prickly pear cactus).

Description, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis:

This compound glyph may translate as the "gorge of the lizard." The nopal cacti, besides being prevalent in the local landscape, just might also serve as a phonetic complement for the "pal" in cuetzpalin. The lizard is a calendrical sign, which may or may not enter into the significance of the place name. The context image shows a large parcel of land near the place name hieroglyph, and the glyph may intend to name the parcel.

Added Analysis, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Gloss Image:

Gloss Diplomatic Transcription:

cuetzpaltlatzallā

Gloss Normalization:

Cuetzpaltlatzalan

Gloss Analysis, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Source Manuscript:

Quetzalecatzin, Codex (CQ)

Date of Manuscript:

covers ruling men and women of Tecamachalco through 1593

Creator's Location (and place coverage):

southern Puebla state

Semantic Categories:

place name

Syntax:

noun(s)

Cultural Content & Iconography:

Animals, incl. Birds, Bugs, Insects, Reptiles, etc.

Landscape Features

Cultural Content, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Colors:

brown

green (dark)

Parts (compounds or simplex + notation):

Number of Parts, Other / Comment:

There are two elements that enter into the reading. It is not clear whether the nopalli cacti have a specific, phonetic role in the place name.

Reading Order (Compounds or Simplex + Notation):

downward

Other Cultural Influences:

Mixtec

Keywords:

cacti, cactos, lizards, lagartos, quebradas, gorges

Glyph or Iconographic Image:

Relevant Nahuatl Dictionary Word(s):

cuetzpal(in), lizard or iguana, calendar marker, personal name, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/cuetzpalin
tlatzalan, gorge, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/tlatzalan

Additional Scholars' Interpretations:

P[ueblo] Cuetzpal Tlatzalla[n] “Valley of the Lizards.” Matthew T. McDavitt, “Placenames in the Codex Quetzalecatzin,” unpublished essay shared 2-21-2018.

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation:

La Quebrada del Lagarto

Spanish Translation, Credit:

Stephanie Wood

Image Source:

The Codex Quetzalecatzin, aka Mapa de Ecatepec-Huitziltepec, Codex Ehecatepec-Huitziltepec, or Charles Ratton Codex. Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017590521/

Image Source, Rights:

The Library of Congress, current custodian of this pictorial Mexican manuscript, hosts a digital version on line. It is not copyright protected.

Historical Contextualizing Image: