Cuapopoca (MH638r)

The name could be Cuauhpopoca (“The Eagle Smokes”), but the gloss gives Cuapopoca. This Cua- start to the name is reminiscent of other examples where Cuauh- might be expected. Frances Karttunen writes in response to a question about why Cuauhtemoc is often written Cuatemoc: “The digraph hu- (syllable-initially) and -uh (syllable finally) represents /w/. In syllable-final position, this is devoiced and ‘whispery.’” [Source: Association of Nahuatl Scholars, Facebook, August 12, 2024.] So, Cuapopoca is likely not intending “The Head Smokes” despite the Cua- (relating to the head) start to the name. It is interesting that the smoke curls do come from the head of the eagle. The reasoning may be that the tlacuilo wished to distinguish them from speech scrolls, which would instead come from the beak.