Solar Year of 365 Days

The calendar is structured around a 365-day solar year, integrating various Mesoamerican spiritual beliefs and essential agricultural cycles.

Eighteen Months

These 365 days are organized into 18 months, each comprising 20 days known as veintenas. An additional five days, termed nemontemi or "unlucky days," exist outside of the veintenas and were considered inauspicious, leading to the suspension of everyday activities, including cooking.

The Five Suns

The calendar also features four squares and three concentric rings surrounding a central figure, symbolizing the epochs recognized by the Mesoamerican civilization as the "Five Worlds of the Sun."

In this article, we will explore deeper meanings associated with the Aztec calendar, including:

• Symbols of the Aztec Calendar
• The existence of a secondary Aztec calendar
• How to interpret the Aztec Calendar
• The current location of the original Aztec Sun Stone
• The Mesoamerican Long Count Calendar
• Additional ancient calendars

> The Mexica, the indigenous Nahuatl-speaking people, founded and governed the Aztec Empire.

Central Figure

At the heart of the stone lies a glyph representing Tlaltecuhtli, the Earth. This figure is sometimes interpreted as Tonatiu, the sun god. His tongue resembles a sacrificial dagger, indicating a demand for blood, while his clawed hands grasp what may be human hearts.

Tlaltecuhtli signifies the current solar epoch known as the Earthquake Sun (Nahui-Ollin). According to Mesoamerican prophecies, if the deities are displeased, the world will face destruction through earthquakes, and monstrous star gods called Tzitzimimeh will consume all life.

Surrounding Squares

The squares encircling the central figure symbolize the four cycles of destruction and rebirth for humanity.

• Top Right: The Jaguar Sun (Nahui Ocelotl) represents the end of the first epoch, when jaguars consumed the earth's inhabitants, believed to be giant, primitive humanoids.
• Top Left: The Wind Sun (Nahui Ehecatl) marks the end of the second epoch, characterized by agricultural development, where hurricanes led to the transformation of humans into monkeys.
• Bottom Left: The Rain Sun (Nahui Quiyahuitl) signifies the end of the third epoch, known for sophisticated architectural achievements, where volcanic eruptions turned humans into turkeys.
• Bottom Right: The Water Sun (Nahui Atl) marks the conclusion of the fourth epoch, defined by seafaring, resulting in a global flood that transformed humans into fish, except for one couple who became dogs.

Concentric Rings

• First Ring: Features animal symbols for the 20 days of each of the 18 months, including the five nemontemi.
• Second Ring: Contains square segments with five points each, divided by eight small and larger angles representing the sun's rays at the four cardinal directions.
• Third Ring: Dominated by two fire serpents entwined, possibly symbolizing rival deities from the creation myth of the fifth epoch. Their interlocked tongues signify the continuity of time and ongoing conflicts in celestial and terrestrial realms.
• Fourth Ring: The outermost ring showcases dots and lines that may depict stars and flint knives.

In Nahuatl, the Aztec sun stone is referred to as Teoilhuicatlapaluaztli-Ollin Tonalmachiotl, meaning the "Great and Venerable Mechanism of the Universe."

Breakdown of the Date

The calculation is as follows:

• 13 B’aktun: 13 x 144,000 days = 1,872,000 days
• 0 K’atun: 0 x 7,200 days = 0 days
• 10 Tun: 10 x 360 days = 3,600 days
• 9 Winal: 9 x 20 days = 180 days
• 3 K’in: 3 x 1 day = 3 days

The Total Calculation

Using these values, one can determine the number of days from the beginning of Mayan time to May 1, 2023:

(13 × 144,000) + (0 × 7,200) + (10 × 360) + (9 × 20) + (3 × 1) = 1,875,783 days

Mayan Haab’ Calendar

The Haab’ calendar functioned as a civil calendar, repeating annually like contemporary calendars. It comprised 18 months, each with 20 days, plus an additional five days at the end, totaling 365 days.

Tzolk’in Calendar

The Tzolk’in calendar served as a religious calendar for priests, consisting of 20 months with 13 days each, resulting in a total of 260 days. It was primarily used to mark religious events, with the months and days interlocking to maintain an accurate count.

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©Lela Cargill, American Scientist and Journalist 2024. Support Medium Writers!

> This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice.

© 2012 Lela Cargill Originally posted as The Aztec Calendar: Symbols, Meanings, Reading, and More on HubPages.com