Tecoyoc (TK208v)

This painted compound Nahuatl hieroglyph represents the place name Tecoyoc (perhaps, “Howling Place” or “Painful Place”). Suggestions are welcomed for the translation. The compound consists of three elements, and the reading order is upward and left-to-right. At the bottom are two elements, terracotta-colored lips (tentli) and a horizontal white stone (tetl) with the usual curling ends and wavy vertical double lines across the middle. Each of these elements provides the phonetic syllable -te- that is the sound at the start of the place name. At the top of the compound is the gray head of a coyote (coyotl). Its mouth is open with teeth showing, and lines curve around its mouth. The animal’s ears stand up, looking something like antlers. The coyote’s head is in profile, facing right.