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<p align="center">Aztec Calendar Stone</p>
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          The Calendar Stone is a wonder sculpted by the ancient Aztec of Mesoamerica in

1479.  Having been lost after the Spanish conquest, in 1790, the stone was found in the center of Mexico City also known as the “Zocallo”(<a href="http://www.aztec-history.com/">www.aztec-history.com</a>). “The Aztecs exhibited many different styles of art, but the expression they favored most were sculptures” (<a href="http://www2.truman.edu/~marc/webpages/nativesp99/aztecs/aztec_template.html">http://www2.truman.edu/~marc/webpages/nativesp99/aztecs/aztec_template.html</a>) and “The sculptures served to communicate the concepts of Aztec religion and were part of complex rituals”. (http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/azss/hd_azss.htm)

This preference holds true in this 25 ton basalt monster where the Sun God resides in the center. Within this calendar actually resides two. The first, the Xiuhpohualli and the Tonalpohualli.

The first, the Xiuhpohualli, literally means “the counting of years” (<a href="http://www.aztec-history.com/">www.aztec-history.com</a>). This was a 365 day calendar and was used for predictiong seasons. This also included eighteen, twenty day months. The second calendar, the Tonalpohualli, is known for being the sacred calendar. This calendar had 260 days and there were 20 different signs and 13 numbers. Also, each week was ruled by a god. Every 52 years, these two calendars would align and it was believed to be a time of disaster.

This piece is typical of its time because at the time, gods were a common theme in Aztec art. I think this should be saved for a couple reasons. First, this massive sculpture is a monument to the lost Aztec civilization. Second, we base our own present calendar on this great calendar.

Works Cited

"Aztec Community." Xenon.truman.edu. Web. 11 Sept. 2011. &lt;http://www2.truman.edu/~marc/webpages/nativesp99/aztecs/aztec_template.html&gt;.

"Aztec Calendar - Sun Stone - Crystalinks." Crystalinks Home Page. Web. 11 Sept. 2011. &lt;http://www.crystalinks.com/aztecalendar.html&gt;.

Aztec Stone Sculpture | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art." The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York: Metmuseum.org. Web. 11 Sept. 2011. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/azss/hd_azss.htm&gt;.&lt;

Aztec Stone Sculpture | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art." The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York: Metmuseum.org. Web. 12 Sept. 2011. &lt;http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/azss/hd_azss.htm&gt;.