Yecatecatl (MH664r)

The initial letter "i" or "y" is not entirely unusual for the start to this ethnicity. At least two other glyphs in this collection are glossed Yecatl. The start to these names is more commonly Eca-, even when Eheca- might be expected, given the iconography. A device for blowing wind is a diagnostic for Ehecatl, the divine force or deity of the wind. The lack of reduplication of the first syllable in the man's name by itself is not unusual. Ecatl can mean air or breath, while ehecatl is the usual way of writing wind. Wind has a notable importance in Nahua religion, often preceding the rain that was so essential for temporal agriculture. Ehecatl was a day sign in the 260-day divinatory calendar (tonalpohualli), which meant it ended up as a personal name for many people. In this case, the place name Ecatlan could refer to a settlement where there is much wind.