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Jaguar Nights Mayan Aztec Calendar book series

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THE AZTEC SUN STONE

Sun Stone Replica photo by Will Piedmont

When the Spanish invaded the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlan in 1521, they razed most of the stone buildings and built what is now Mexico City on top of the rubble. The Aztec Sun Stone, also called the Aztec Calendar Stone, a 12-foot wide circular stone carving buried in the debris, was discovered in Mexico City in 1790. It has become an iconic and well-known Mexican symbol, and is often used incorrectly to depict Mayan calendar symbology.

The center of the intricately carved calendar is the sun god Tonatiuh. Hungry, he is sticking his tongue out, and that tongue is the symbol for flint, a sacrificial knife. To either side of his face are claws holding human hearts. The shape surrounding Tonatiuh’s face is the glyph for the day-sign Ollin (earthquake), and the four dots indicate a date of 4-Ollin. This is the date the Aztecs believed this world age will end, and that it will end with earthquakes.

The four small pictures around the god’s face are the four previous ages, which ended on 4-Rain, 4-Water, 4-Jaguar, and 4-Wind, indicating both the dates and the method of destruction of those worlds. Also in that area are the symbols for the cardinal directions.

The next ring is the twenty day-signs of the sacred calendar. Outside of that are light beams, jade ornaments, and splashes of blood. The outermost ring is a pair of Xiucoatls, fire serpents, with flames coming out of their backs.

The layout of the stone combines art and geometry to show the Aztec world view. There is a full-sized reproduction of the stone on Cozumel (pictured) and the original stone is in the Museo Nacional de Antropología in Mexico City.


All material on this site is copyright (c) by Gevera Bert Piedmont except where noted. Jaguar logo and other graphics from Jaguar Nights copyright (c) by Michael A. Giza, used with permission. All rights reserved. Contact me for permission to republish. Information on this site is for entertainment purposes only. Enjoy! })i({

Page created: 13.0.6.1.9 9-Muluc 2-Kankin (19 December 2018)
Page modified: 13.0.6.1.9 9-Muluc 2-Kankin (19 December 2018)