Tecpanecatl (MH778v)

This is a black-line drawing of the simplex glyph for the personal name or title, Tecpanecatl (perhaps a "Person Associated with the Tecpancalli, or Palace"). It is attested here as pertaining to a man. The hieroglyph appears to be a frontal view of two, vertical, wooden posts. At the top and bottom of the posts are round shapes, perhaps post caps or newells. Connecting them from behind is a wide triangular shape with the point down. The overall shape is something like the letter M. This may well be a cuauhtecpantli, a wooden construction that may have had a protective function, like a railing, as suggested by Marc Thouvenot in a generous communication (30 September 2024). The tepozcuauhtecpantli, which was a colonial innovation involving metal, was an iron grille or balcony railing. In short, the cuauhtecpantli serves as a phonetic indicator for the Tecpan- start to this name or title.