sardonic nicknames

[Kevin P Smith]

Many thanks to Mark and everyone else who was kind enough to steer me to
_Nahuas After the Conquest_. Yes, that was exactly the reference I had
lost. And thanks also for the tip on Maxixcatzin. I was about to use
it. I'm still working on the character of Ahuachpitzactzin, whose name Joe
Campbell translates as "thin drizzle." It's obvious how this could be a
cradle name, but isn't it also possible that it was more poetic, something
like "fine dew" or "light mist?" Additionally, there are indications
that Ahuachpitzactzin was born under the unfortunate day-sign, Ome
Tochtli, which predisposed one to excesses, especially drunkenness. Could
the name "thin drizzle" have been a Nahua elder's attempt to somehow
lessen the effect of a tonalli more inclined to downpours and floods?

--
Kevin
ksmith at umail.ucsb.edu

On Thu, 14 Mar 2002, Mark David Morris wrote:

> Kevin,
>
> Lockhart also included his discussion of sardonic Nahuatl names in his
> _Nahuas After the Conquest_.  After living and studying in Tlaxcala for
> the past three years, I still don't have a firm enough opinion on the
> subject to make useful comment about what was the intent of that type of
> name.  I would like to point out, however, that Lockhart misread
> Maxixcatzin as that it is composed of Maxatl or Maxtli, Ichcatl, Catl and
> Tzin and refers to that dynasty's (with origins in Cholula) control of
> Ocotelulco's profitable trade in cotton and other goods on the Tabasco
> road.  Vulgar word play in names is, nonetheless, very present.  Today a
> young student asked me about his last name, Cuatecontzin -- Wooden head
> and a good part of Tlalcuapan shares the last name Bello that forty years
> ago was Tzontimatzin - Hairy Hand, that they changed to Pelo, i.e. Bello.
>
> best,
> Mark Morris
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> La muerte tiene permiso a todo
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> MDM, PhD Candidate
> Dept. of History, Indiana Univ.
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