Aztec Calendars

Today we're looking at the Aztec calendar. My understanding is that the Aztec version had its roots in the Mayan calendar. The face in the middle of the calendar is Tonatiuh, the sun god. I'm including a heaping helping of links below.

Who were the Aztecs? Archaeology guide Kris Hirst explains, "Aztecs are the collective name given to seven Chichimec tribes of northern Mexico." Their civilization was dominant from the 12th century until the Spanish invasion in the 15th century.

A replica of an Aztec calendar from the exhibit In Bringing the Heavens to Earth

Mural
Inner Mission, San Francisco, California
Photo by Emily Hoyer

A public domain Aztec calendar

From the book Historical and chronological description of the two stones found during the new paving of the Mexico's main plaza
by Antonio de Leon y Gama, 1792

Mural
Millan Primary School, Mexico City

Photo by Gregory Schick

Links:

* The NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) site has a neat exhibit called A Walk Through Time that includes info on ancient calendars.
* Info comparing the Mayan and Aztec calendars
* A diagram showing the meaning of the Aztec calendar
* The most famous Aztec calendar is the one at the Anthropology Museum in Mexico City. It took 52 years to be completed!
* I had almost finished this post when I saw this article from Wired, which says that the Aztec Calendar Stone was used as an altar for human sacrifice.
* A book about the Aztec Calendar Stone
* How to Make An Aztec Step Pyramid
* 2012 Isn't the End of the World, Mayans Insist
* You can actually get an Aztec Calendar on a onesie!
* Brush footwear shoes:

Symbols for my birthday, courtesy Aztec Calendar: Go there if you'd like to see what your symbols are.