Aztec Calendar

Also known as The Sun Stone, the Aztec Calendar was a circular monolith that was used by the Mexica tribe as a sacred sacrifice stone. It is about 4 meters across or 12 feet and weighs 24 tons. The stone was discovered in 1790 in the Plaza Mayor (the Zocalo in downtown Mexico City) in what was at the time known by the name of the capital city, "New Spain". It has incorrectly been named the Aztec Calendar because of the names of days and other symbols on it. In fact, this was a gladiatorial sacrificing stone. Warriors would stage fights on the stone in what was called the Tlacaxipeuhualiztli ceremony (say that fast three times).

Allow me to explain the symbolism of this edifice from the inside out.

1. Emerging from the centre is the face of Xiuhtecuhtli who is coming from the earth hole. His tongue is in the shape of a sacrificial knife. He is surrounded by four suns (or ages) that precede a fifth sun, which is made up of his face, claws and rays. 2. There is then the circle of twenty days. 3. The circle with four directions of the universe and sun rays. 4. Feathers and ornaments probably related to sacrifice. 5. The final outer ring is of fiery serpents, the heads of which you see at the bottom.