Understanding the Aztec Sun Stone

May 6, 2024

Take quiz

Review flashcards

Summary of Today's Lecture: The Sun Stone (Piedra del Sol)

Today's lecture discussed the Piedra del Sol, a significant Aztec artifact. This carved basalt monolith was originally part of the Templo Mayor architecture and is known for its rich historical and cultural significance.

Key Details of the Sun Stone

  • Physical Characteristics

    • Diameter: 3.58 meters
    • Thickness: 98 centimeters
    • Weight: 24.5 tons
    • Material: Basalt

  • Historical Context

    • The stone was likely placed on the ground in its original setting and might have been anointed with blood sacrifices.
    • Discovered in 1790 during leveling and piping work in the Plaza Mayor of Mexico City.
    • Remained buried for 270 years after the conquest.

  • Cultural Significance

    • Prominent symbol of Mexica or Aztec culture.
    • Represents the cosmological eras, including four previous eras and the era of the Fifth Sun.
    • The center features the face of Tonatiuh, the Sun God.

  • Interpretations and Theories

    • Some historians believe the stone was used as a temalacatl (a gladiatorial combat platform).
    • Others suggest it served as a cuauhxicalli (a vessel to hold hearts offered to deities).

  • Public Exposure and Relocation

    • Initially named "Aztec calendar" by anthropologist Antonio de León y Gama.
    • Viceroy Revillagigedo ordered its exposure to public for appreciation and it was placed in the western tower of the Metropolitan Cathedral.
    • Moved to the National Museum in a gallery dedicated to pre-Hispanic monoliths in 1887 by President Porfirio Díaz.
    • In 1964, transferred to the National Museum of Anthropology and History in Chapultepec Park for exhibition, where it currently resides in the Mexica room.

Significance of the Lecture

This discussion enhances our understanding of Aztec civilization’s complexity and their profound connection to cosmology and religion, as depicted through monumental art like the Sun Stone. This artifact not only serves as a historical object but also as a cultural symbol that offers deep insights into the social and religious practices of the Aztecs.