The Aztec Calendar Stone was discovered in the approximately the middle of the 17<sup>th</sup> Century in the Zocalo, which is the Central Plaza of Mexico City. The Stone was carved shortly after 1502. The enormous stone measures thirteen feet in diameter and weighs twenty-four tons. The large stone is made of basaltic porphyry, which is “a basalt characterized by prominent phenocrysts of olivine or augite.” (Merriam-Webster)

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The Aztec Calendar Stone has several calendars integrated into one large calendar. It is comprised of “…highly-developed mathematical calculations, astronomy, astrology, myth, and religion.” (Waters)

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The Aztec Calendar Stone was popular and used by the Aztecs and the Mayans for tracking moon cycles.

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There are two major calendars the first is called The Xiuhpohauli and the second is called The Tonalpohauli.

The Xiuhpohauli is counting of years. This version is made up of 365 days. This version is made up 365 days. The calendar was useful for weather predictions and farming. This would be equivalent to the modern day almanac. The 365 days was broken down to “…18 months of 20 days, or 4 (5 day) weeks.” (<a href="http://www.aztec-history.com">www.aztec-history.com</a>)

The Tonalpohauli is considered the Sacred calendar, it is comprised of 13

number and 20 day signs.

“Each of the days was governed by a deity, as shown in the fifth column of the

table, who influenced it for good or evil. The Mayas regarded the days

days themselves as gods, the glyphs for the day names being stylized portraits

or pictures of the attributes of these gods. The numbers 1 to 13 were also

personalized as the heads of the gods the represented.” (Waters, 220)

The following is a partial table of what Waters was referring in the above quote:
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="900">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">No.</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td colspan="2" width="150" valign="bottom">Nuahuatl   Name</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">Sign</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">Direction</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">Deity</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="143" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="7" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">1</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="143" valign="bottom">Cipactl</td>
<td width="7" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">Crocodile</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">E</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td colspan="3" width="225" valign="bottom">Tonacatecuhtli,   god of procreation</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">2</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="143" valign="bottom">Ehecatl</td>
<td width="7" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">Wind</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">N</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td colspan="2" width="150" valign="bottom">Quetzalcoatl   as wind god</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">3</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="143" valign="bottom">Calli</td>
<td width="7" valign="bottom"></td>
<td colspan="2" width="150" valign="bottom">House   or Temple</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">W</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td colspan="3" width="225" valign="bottom">Tepeyollotl,   heart of the mountain</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">4</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="143" valign="bottom">Quetzpalin</td>
<td width="7" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">Lizard</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">S</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td colspan="3" width="225" valign="bottom">Huehuecoyotl,   god of dance</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">5</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="143" valign="bottom">Coatl</td>
<td width="7" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">Snake</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">E</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td colspan="3" width="225" valign="bottom">Chalchihuitlicue,   water goddess</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">6</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="143" valign="bottom">Mizquiztli</td>
<td width="7" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">Death</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">N</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td colspan="3" width="225" valign="bottom">Teciztecatl,   moon goddess</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">7</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="143" valign="bottom">Mazatl</td>
<td width="7" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">Deer</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">W</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td colspan="2" width="150" valign="bottom">Tlaloc,   god of rain</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">8</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="143" valign="bottom">Tochtli</td>
<td width="7" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">Rabbit</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">S</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td colspan="3" width="225" valign="bottom">Mayahuel,   goddess of maguey</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">9</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="143" valign="bottom">Atl</td>
<td width="7" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">Water</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">E</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td colspan="2" width="150" valign="bottom">Xiuhtecuhtli,   god of fire</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">10</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="143" valign="bottom">Itzcuintli</td>
<td width="7" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">Dog</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">N</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td colspan="3" width="225" valign="bottom">Mictlantecuhtli,   god of death</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">11</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="143" valign="bottom">Ozmatli</td>
<td width="7" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">Monkey</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">W</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td colspan="2" width="150" valign="bottom">Xochipilli,   god of flowers</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">12</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="143" valign="bottom">Malnalli</td>
<td width="7" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">Grass</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">S</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td colspan="2" width="150" valign="bottom">Patecatl,   god of pulque</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">13</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="143" valign="bottom">Acatl</td>
<td width="7" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">Reed</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">E</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">Tezcatlipoca</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">1</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="143" valign="bottom">Ocelotl</td>
<td width="7" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">Jaguar</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">N</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td colspan="2" width="150" valign="bottom">Tlacolteotl,   earth goddess</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">2</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="143" valign="bottom">Cuauhtli</td>
<td width="7" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">Eagle</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">W</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td colspan="2" width="150" valign="bottom">Tezcatlipoca-Xipe   Totec</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">3</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td colspan="2" width="150" valign="bottom">Cozcaquahtli</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">Vulture</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">S</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td colspan="3" width="225" valign="bottom">Itzpapalotl,   obsidian butterfly</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">4</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="143" valign="bottom">Ollin</td>
<td width="7" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">Movement</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">E</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td colspan="2" width="150" valign="bottom">Xolotl-Nanahuatzin</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">5</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="143" valign="bottom">Tecpatl</td>
<td width="7" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">Flint   Knife</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">N</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td colspan="2" width="150" valign="bottom">Chalchiuhtotlin</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">6</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="143" valign="bottom">Quiahuitl</td>
<td width="7" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">Rain</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">W</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td colspan="2" width="150" valign="bottom">Tonatiuh,   the solar god</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">7</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="143" valign="bottom">Xochitl</td>
<td width="7" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">Flower</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom">S</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
<td colspan="3" width="225" valign="bottom">Xochiquetzal,   goddess of flowers</td>
<td width="75" valign="bottom"></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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The two calendars aligned every 52 years predicting world catastrophe.

This piece is typical of its time because it reflected “the preoccupation in the religion had to do with fear of nature, and a fear of the end of the world.” (www.aztec-history.com)

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The origins of the sacred calendar are unknown. The calendar “…served ancient Mesoamerica- as it still serves the many Mayan tribes- primarily as a ‘Book of Fate’ or divinatory almanac.” (Waters, 221) The Aztec calendar round was influential in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars, as well as the Astrological Calendar.

I feel it should be preserved not only because I see it as a beautiful piece of art, but also helped influence the Julian calendar we use today, which consists of 11 months of 30 or 31 days and 28 day February and extended to 29 days every fourth year.

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<h1>Works Cited</h1>
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<a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com">www.merriam-webster.com</a>

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<a href="http://www.webexhibits.org/calendars/calendar-mayan.html">http://www.webexhibits.org/calendars/calendar-mayan.html</a>

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Waters, Frank. <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Mexico Mystique</span>.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"> The Coming Sixth World of Consciousness.</span> Printed in the United States of America: Swallow 1975

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<a href="http://www.aztec-history.com">www.aztec-history.com</a>

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