The Aztec Sun Stone (or Calendar Stone) depicts the five consecutive worlds of the sun from Aztec mythology. The stone is not, therefore, in any sense. Directed by Jan Nickman. With Linda Hunt, Kath Soucie. Sun Stone, at in, Material Discovered 17 December 1790 at, Present location, The Sun Stone, Stone of the Five Eras, or sometimes (erroneously) called Aztec calendar stone is a late post-classic sculpture housed in the in Mexico City, and is perhaps the most famous work of Aztec sculpture. The stone is 358 centimetres (11.75 ft) in diameter and 98 centimetres (3.22 ft) thick, and it weighs about 24 tons. Shortly after the, the monolithic was buried in the, the main square of. It was rediscovered on December 17, 1790 during repairs on the. Following its rediscovery, the calendar stone was mounted on an exterior wall of the Cathedral, where it remained until 1885. Most scholars think that the stone was carved some time between 1502 and 1521, though some believe that it is several decades older than that. Detail of the two innermost circles of the monolith The sculpted motifs that cover the surface of the stone refer to central components of the. Central disk [ ] In the center of the monolith is the face of the solar deity,, which appears inside the glyph for 'movement' (: Ōllin), the name of the current era. The central figure is shown holding a human heart in each of his clawed hands, and his tongue is represented by a stone sacrificial knife (). Four previous suns or eras [ ] The four squares that surround the central deity represent the or eras, which preceded the present era, 4 Movement (: Nahui Ōllin). The Aztecs changed the order of the suns and introduced a fifth sun named 4 Movement after they seized power over the central highlands. ![]() Each era ended with the destruction of the world and humanity, which were then recreated in the next era. • The top right square represents 4 Jaguar (: Nahui Ōcēlotl), the day on which the first era ended, after having lasted 676 years, due to the appearance of monsters that devoured all of humanity. • The top left square shows 4 Wind (: Nahui Ehēcatl), the date on which, after 364 years, hurricane winds destroyed the earth, and humans were turned into monkeys. • The bottom left square shows 4 Rain (: Nahui Quiyahuitl). This era lasted 312 years, before being destroyed by a rain of fire, which transformed humanity into turkeys. • The bottom right square represents 4 Water (: Nahui Atl), an era that lasted 676 years and ended when the world was flooded and all the humans were turned into fish. Placed among these four squares are three additional dates, 1 Flint ( Tecpatl), 1 Rain ( Atl), and 7 Monkey ( Ozomahtli), and a Xiuhuitzolli, or ruler's turquoise diadem, glyph. It has been suggested that these dates may have had both historical and cosmic significance, and that the diadem may form part of the name of the Mexica ruler. Interpretation [ ] External video, 6:28, at, on YouTube The exact purpose and meaning of the Calendar Stone are unclear. Archaeologists and historians have proposed numerous theories, and it is likely that there are several aspects to its interpretation. The earliest interpretations of the stone relate to its use as a calendar. In 1792, two years after the stone's unearthing, Mexican anthropologist wrote a treatise on the Aztec calendar using the stone as its basis. Some of the circles of are the glyphs for the days of the month. The four symbols included in the Ollin glyph represent the four past suns that the Mexica believed the earth had passed through. Another aspect of the stone is its religious significance. One theory is that the face at the center of the stone represents, the Aztec deity of the sun. It is for this reason that the stone became known as the 'Sun Stone.' Richard Townsend proposed a different theory, claiming that the figure at the center of the stone represents, the Mexica earth deity who features in Mexica creation myths. Modern archaeologists, such as those at the in Mexico City, believe it is more likely to have been used primarily as a ceremonial basin or ritual altar for, than as an astrological or astronomical reference. Yet another characteristic of the stone is its possible geographic significance. The four points may relate to the four corners of the earth or the cardinal points. The inner circles may express space as well as time. Lastly, there is the political aspect of the stone. It may have been intended to show as the center of the world and therefore, as the center of authority. Townsend argues for this idea, claiming that the small glyphs of additional dates amongst the four previous suns— 1 Flint ( Tecpatl), 1 Rain ( Atl), and 7 Monkey ( Ozomahtli)—represent matters of historical importance to the Mexica state. He posits, for example, that 7 Monkey represents the significant day for the cult of a community within Tenochtitlan. His claim is further supported by the presence of Mexica ruler 's name on the work. These elements ground the Stone's iconography in history rather than myth and the legitimacy of the state in the cosmos. Modern use [ ]. Mexican paper craft on Aztec calendar stone The calendar stone image is displayed on the obverse the Mexican 20 Peso gold coin, which has a gold content of 15 grams (.4823 troy ounces) and was minted from 1917-1921 and restruck with the date 1959 from the mid 1940s to the late 1970s. As of October 2015 its value was roughly $600.
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